According to Payscale.com, 43% of respondents to a recent survey consider themselves “underemployed” which, in the survey’s definition, includes (1) feeling underpaid, (2) having a job that doesn’t use the respondent’s education, training, and skills, or (3) working part-time but wanting full-time work. Being underpaid was the most common reason, with 80% of those who identified as underemployed citing it. Interestingly, Payscale found that 45% of those who said they were underpaid “were actually paid in line with the market for their current position.”
Among various occupations, 87% of the surveyed patient services representatives reported feeling underemployed, the most of any occupational category, followed by nannies (78%), and retail sales associates (78%). Underemployed respondents who felt that they were not using their education or training were most prevalent among data entry operators (38%) and administrative technicians (36%) and general office clerks (36%). Those working part-time who wanted full-time work were most common among orderlies (39%), retail sales associates (36%), and line cooks (35%).
Payscale.com is an online salary and compensation information company that, among other things, surveys and compiles employee job profile and compensation data and provides compensation consulting services to employers.
