Economic Outlook ‘96 Partially Employed Part-Time Work Serves Economic, Social Purpose, Forum Participants Say

The joke about jobs created by the latest economic recovery goes like this:

One man remarks to another how the ‘90s have created hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

The other man says, “Yes. I have three of them.”

Many of the jobs created in the Inland Northwest came in the retail sector, which often translates to low-paying, part-time work.

The prevalence of such work, often derisively labeled as “burger-flipping jobs,” has sullied the image of the recovery in the eyes of some.

But economists and analysts at The Spokesman-Review economic forum hesitated to condemn part-time jobs when members of the audience brought up the topic.

“This is a national phenomenon to be able to control costs by having some percentage of the employment being part time,” said Phil Kuharski of Prudential Securities.

“There’s a lot of folks out there that have part-time jobs because they really choose to have part-time jobs,” said WSU economist Gary Smith.

For one manager, part-time work proved valuable in developing her career. For young people entering the workplace, there’s nothing better, said Carol Flom, who attended the forum.

“I had plenty of part-time jobs, and I found it really helped me learn a lot of important skills,” said Flom, manager of the American Tourister store at Post Falls Factory Outlets. “I think it really helped prepare me for a career in management.”

Some of Flom’s employees agree that part-time work has advantages at this stage in their lives.

“It works pretty well for me because I can’t work two days a week,” said 21-year-old Nicki Meckler, a North Idaho College student. She works about 30-35 hours a week. “Working here is good because it’s more flexible for me.”

For 25-year-old Dava Church, working part time led to a full-time job as Flom’s assistant manager. “It just worked out well for me.”

Part-time jobs often draw criticism for their lack of medical benefits. But that’s changing in the world of retailing, Flom said. Her employees, part time or full time, qualify for medical insurance after a few months of work. They also can contribute to a 401k savings plan and accrue vacations.

“You have to offer these kinds of things to attract the best employees,” Flom said.

Many temporary agencies in the Inland Northwest also offer medical insurance and other benefit packages for employees who stay with them long enough.

In Kootenai County, much of the job growth in this decade has come from “service” jobs, although part-time work is not limited to that sector.

“Since 1987, we’ve seen a tremendous increase in the number of these jobs,” said Kathryn Tacke, labor analyst for the Idaho Department of Employment. “But I don’t know if there are more of them proportionately to the rest of the economy.”

Just looking at a crew of workers at a fast-food restaurant shows the different ways part-time work makes sense for them.

For Kelly Wang, 34, getting 30 hours a week at the Burger King restaurant in Post Falls has helped make ends meet while he searches for full-time work in manufacturing.

For Wendi Coughlin, 25, her job at Burger King gives her time to schedule appointments for a medical condition, and supplements her Social Security Insurance payments. She also delivers newspapers to keep cash flowing.

And Susi MacDonald, with three daughters and classes to attend at North Idaho College, says working about 10 hours a week at Burger King helps keep her family going. “I don’t think I could work a full-time job and do all of this.”

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