Do you consider yourself Underemployed.

[LongTomH]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics considers a person 'underemployed' (the U5 category) if they are working part-time but need / want to work full-time. A person with a degree and 20-30 years experience doesn't count as underemployed by this metric, although most of them would consider themselves underemployed.

Actually, most America workers could be considered underemployed if realistic figures for inflation / cost-of-living were factored in.

What about you? Are you working part-time, need to work full-time? Did you lose a job and are working at a fraction of what you made? Have you taken a pay cut?

[lpbk2713]

1. Retired. Dropped out of the Rat Race.

The rats won.

[Journeyman]

2. Have my own business. . .

every day's an adventure. . .

[Regret My New Name]

3. I'm too useless to be of any use for any one... Not sure what that makes me.

[tilsammans]

4. Underemployed for most of my working life . . .

Only had two jobs (total of 15 years) that were a true fit for my skills.

Now unemployed. That's not a fit either. :shrug:

[MountainLaurel]

5. In between

I'm working fulltime, but not in the field I have my graduate degree in (libraries). We relocated 2 years ago, but I still haven't found a job in that field. Most of the universities are under a state hiring freeze, and I can't afford to work for the public libraries while my husband is still in school.

[LongTomH]

6. I think that would qualify as underemployed.

If you're working below your experience / educational level.

[LongTomH]

7. So far, the largest number of respondees are unemployed!

The second largest group was people who are currently employed and don't consider themselves underemployed. Are there more underemployed people who just haven't responded yet? I've yet to hear from anyone who has graduated in the last few months to a year.