Labor market shifts to temporary & part-time workers

By Art Koff, Founder of RetiredBrains.com

There is a noticeable shift in the labor market with employers increasingly using part-time and temporary workers.  Companies view labor more as inventory that is to be hired when they need it and let go when they don't need it. This is evidenced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics June report which shows part-time jobs soared by almost 800,000 to more than 38 million. The BLS also stated that in June part-time employees swelled to 7.5 million compared with just 4.4 million in 2007.

Many job seekers are seeking part-time and temporary assignments and many others are looking for full-time jobs but readily accept these jobs while they continue to look. This is backed up by the Labor Department’s report of a sharp rise in the number of part-time workers who prefer full-time jobs. The total jumped by 275,000 in June to 7.5 million.

Employers are hiring older workers for these kinds of “at will” assignments as they generally do not have to pay benefits and the costs of off boarding are minimal by comparison to having to let a full-time person go. Any time employers find hiring from a certain area is more cost effective you can be sure this area will be given a great deal of attention. In addition the Affordable Care Act, which requires firms with at least 50 employees to provide health insurance to those working at least 30 hours, seems to be prompting some businesses to hire more part-time workers to save these insurance expenditures.

Part-time and temporary jobs are particularly attractive to older workers as benefits are not as necessary as they were when these workers were still raising a family and before some could take advantage of Medicare.

Click here for more information on how to find temporary jobs and project assignments along with a list of the temporary jobs most in demand.


Seasonal & summer/fall/winter/holiday jobs
These kinds of jobs are often misunderstood and when RetiredBrains asked readers to identify a number of seasonal jobs most could only point to holiday jobs; mostly in retail. Seasonal jobs are diverse and you should certainly look for something that appeals to you as most pay relatively little money. The average person that takes a seasonal job is more interested in the experience. Jobs listed often include guiding tours at the zoo; working in national parks for the concessionaires who run the hotels, restaurants, gift shops and marinas, working at resorts and fishing lodges and for transportation and tourism companies. If you are a golfer there are jobs at golf courses as rangers or starters; or even driving the ball pickup tractor at driving ranges or working behind the desk at the pro shop.

Work at Home Jobs

By Art Koff, Founder Retired Brains

Many boomers, seniors and retirees are looking for legitimate ways to work at home and earn money to enable them to live the lifestyle they had planned during their retirement years or bring in revenue to supplement what they are earning from their job.  Some are also looking for ways to create an income while they are in-between jobs.

There are many ways to use your interests and experience to work at home.  In some cases you can work for a company and in others you can work for yourself.

RetiredBrains has included brief success stories from a number readers outlining the small businesses they started with little or no financial investment that are now turning a profit.  Click here to see a List Small Businesses Enterprises Started by Boomers, Seniors and Retirees

The 10 Top Industries for Work-from-Home Jobs

Where are the Work-from-Home Jobs for Boomers, Seniors & Retirees?

In addition to job opportunities available for boomers & seniors outside of the home, working from home is a major source of income for many older Americans. If you are comfortable working with a computer and the phone, telecommuting or working from home is a solid option. An understanding of technology would, in some cases, make you even more valuable.

Work-from-home “jobs” for boomers, seniors and retirees include full-time or part-time jobs, freelance and consulting jobs, and temporary or seasonal work.

According to data analyzed by the home-based job search service FlexJobs, the top 10 work from home jobs are as follows:

1. Sales

2. Medical & Health

3. Customer Service

4. Administrative

5. Computer & IT  

6. Education & Training

7. Web & Software Dev

8. Accounting & Finance

9. Manager

10. Research

Applying for Work-from-Home Jobs

Before you start applying for work-from-home jobs, consider the type of work you’d like to do from home. Do you want to work 100% from home, or would you like to get out of the house as well? For example, Sales is a field that allows you to work from home and do in-person visits, whereas Customer Service jobs will be done entirely from home. Know which you’d prefer and focus on those jobs.

Steer Clear of Work-from-Home Job Scams

There are a lot of dubious business opportunities and outright scams in the work-from-home job niche, so be sure to use caution and trust your instincts when applying to jobs. Research any company thoroughly before accepting employment. Do not give out personal information like bank account and social security numbers. Never “invest” or pay to get a job. And don’t be pressured into accepting a job on-the-spot without being able to do your research.  For more information on scams click here.

The Top10 Most Common Work-from-Home Job Titles

1. Writer

2. Consultant

3. Customer Service Representative

4. Sales Representative

5. Engineer

6. Account Executive/Manager

7. Software Developer

8. Case Manager

9. Medical Coder

10. Adjunct Faculty