Is Underemployment Underestimated? Evidence from Panel Data, Accessible Data
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Figure 1: CPS PTER and Share of Involuntary Part-Time Workers in PSID
| Year | PTER (CPS) | PSID |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 3.1% | 4.0% |
| 1968 | 2.7% | 4.3% |
| 1969 | 2.8% | 3.1% |
| 1970 | 3.3% | 5.8% |
| 1971 | 3.6% | 4.5% |
| 1972 | 3.4% | 3.5% |
| 1973 | 3.2% | 3.7% |
| 1974 | 3.7% | 5.1% |
| 1975 | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| 1976 | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| 1977 | 4.2% | 3.7% |
| 1978 | 3.9% | 4.3% |
| 1979 | 3.8% | 4.5% |
| 1980 | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 1981 | 5.0% | 5.7% |
| 1982 | 6.6% | 7.3% |
| 1983 | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| 1984 | 5.9% | 4.6% |
| 1985 | 5.6% | 5.7% |
| 1986 | 5.5% | 4.9% |
Source: Authors' estimates using the Current Population Survey (CPS) and Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) data. PSID subset to those working between 1 and 34 hours per week. NBER recessions highlighted in blue: 1969:Q4-1970:Q4, 1973:Q4-1975:Q1, 1980:Q1-1980:Q3, and 1981:Q3-1982:Q4.
Figure 2: CPS PTER and Share of Involuntary Part-Time Workers in HRS
| Year | PTER (CPS) | PTER 55+ (CPS) | HRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 3.9% | 2.9% | 1.9% |
| 1995 | 3.7% | 2.9% | 2.1% |
| 1996 | 3.5% | 2.7% | 2.4% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | 2.5% | 2.4% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| 1999 | 2.5% | 2.0% | 2.3% |
| 2000 | 2.4% | 1.9% | 2.2% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| 2002 | 3.2% | 2.4% | 1.4% |
| 2003 | 3.5% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| 2004 | 3.4% | 2.5% | 2.1% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | 2.4% | 2.2% |
| 2006 | 3.0% | 2.3% | 2.2% |
| 2007 | 3.1% | 2.4% | 2.2% |
| 2008 | 4.2% | 3.2% | 2.3% |
| 2009 | 6.7% | 5.0% | 3.0% |
| 2010 | 6.7% | 5.1% | 3.7% |
| 2011 | 6.4% | 4.8% | 3.4% |
| 2012 | 6.0% | 4.6% | 3.1% |
Source: Authors' estimates using the Current Population Survey (CPS) and Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data. HRS data subset to those working between 1 and 34 hours per week. NBER recessions highlighted in blue: 2001:Q1-2001:Q4, and 2007:Q4-2009:Q2.
Figure 3: CPS PTER and Share of Upside Hours Constraints in PSID and HRS
| Year | PTER (CPS) | PTER 55+ (CPS) | HRS | PSID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 3% | 15% | ||
| 1968 | 3% | 18% | ||
| 1969 | 3% | 19% | ||
| 1970 | 3% | 20% | ||
| 1971 | 4% | 18% | ||
| 1972 | 3% | 17% | ||
| 1973 | 3% | 16% | ||
| 1974 | 4% | 19% | ||
| 1975 | 5% | 19% | ||
| 1976 | 4% | 18% | ||
| 1977 | 4% | 16% | ||
| 1978 | 4% | 17% | ||
| 1979 | 4% | 18% | ||
| 1980 | 5% | 20% | ||
| 1981 | 5% | 21% | ||
| 1982 | 7% | 22% | ||
| 1983 | 7% | 19% | ||
| 1984 | 6% | 19% | ||
| 1985 | 6% | 21% | ||
| 1986 | 5% | 21% | ||
| 1987 | 5% | |||
| 1988 | 5% | |||
| 1989 | 4% | |||
| 1990 | 5% | |||
| 1991 | 6% | |||
| 1992 | 6% | 12% | ||
| 1993 | 6% | 12% | ||
| 1994 | 4% | 3% | 12% | |
| 1995 | 4% | 3% | 11% | |
| 1996 | 4% | 3% | 11% | |
| 1997 | 3% | 3% | 11% | |
| 1998 | 3% | 2% | 10% | |
| 1999 | 3% | 2% | 10% | |
| 2000 | 2% | 2% | 9% | |
| 2001 | 3% | 2% | 8% | |
| 2002 | 3% | 2% | 7% | |
| 2003 | 4% | 3% | 9% | |
| 2004 | 3% | 3% | 12% | |
| 2005 | 3% | 2% | 12% | |
| 2006 | 3% | 2% | 12% | |
| 2007 | 3% | 2% | 12% | |
| 2008 | 4% | 3% | 11% | |
| 2009 | 7% | 5% | 16% | |
| 2010 | 7% | 5% | 20% | |
| 2011 | 6% | 5% | 19% | |
| 2012 | 6% | 5% | 18% | |
| 2013 | 6% | 4% | ||
| 2014 | 5% | 4% |
Source: Authors’ estimates using the Current Population Survey (CPS), Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and Health and Retirement Study (HRS) data. PSID and HRS samples include all respondents working more than 1 hour per week. NBER recessions highlighted in blue: 1969:Q4-1970:Q4, 1973:Q4-1975:Q1, 1980:Q1-1980:Q3, 1981:Q3-1982:Q4, 1990:Q3-1991:Q1, 2001:Q1-2001:Q4,and 2007:Q4-2009:Q2.
Note: Break in the series due to PTER definition changes.