· ShiftFlow Editorial Team · Glossary · 6 min read
What Is a Part-Time Job? Definition, Examples & Guide
Learn what part-time employment means (typically under 35–40 hours/week), common arrangements, industries that use it, benefits and drawbacks, legal considerations, and best practices for employers and workers.
In short: A part-time job typically involves working fewer than 35–40 hours per week—less than an employer’s full-time standard—and can be either permanent or temporary.
Part-time work provides flexibility for both businesses and workers, but comes with distinct characteristics, benefits, and trade-offs compared to full-time employment. Understanding what defines these positions helps set appropriate expectations.
What defines a part-time job?
A part-time job is a position where someone works fewer hours than what the employer considers full-time, typically less than 35–40 hours per week. The exact threshold varies by organization, with some defining full-time as 40 hours, others as 35 or 37.5 hours.
Part-time work can be permanent (ongoing with no end date) or temporary (limited duration). The defining characteristic is reduced weekly hours, not whether the position has a predetermined end date.
What are common part-time arrangements?
Part-time schedules come in various forms:
Regular part-time offers consistent, predictable hours each week (e.g., every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9am–2pm).
Variable part-time involves hours that fluctuate week to week based on business needs, though still staying below full-time thresholds.
Job sharing allows two people to split one full-time position, each working part-time hours to collectively cover the full role. Organizations often use schedule rotation generators to coordinate these split schedules effectively.
Seasonal part-time means reduced hours during certain times of the year through seasonal employment, often in retail (holidays), hospitality (tourist seasons), or agriculture (harvest).
Shift-based part-time involves working some but not all available shifts in operations that run extended hours or 24/7, similar to how businesses manage covering a shift when coordinating multiple team members. Common patterns include swing shift hours or portions of rotating schedules like the 2-2-3 work schedule.
Who uses part-time employment and why?
Employers
Retail and food service, healthcare, education, hospitality, and customer service commonly use part-time staff. Businesses benefit from flexible staffing to scale labor with demand fluctuations, extended coverage during peak hours without full-time wages during slow periods, and lower benefit expenses if part-timers don’t qualify for full packages.
Workers
Students balancing work and education, parents managing childcare, retirees supplementing income, people with health issues requiring reduced workloads, individuals with multiple jobs, and those pursuing passions or businesses alongside employment often seek part-time work. The arrangement offers schedule flexibility, better work-life balance, supplemental income, career transition opportunities, and reduced stress compared to full-time roles.
What are the benefits of part-time work?
For employers
Employers pay only for hours worked and can adjust staffing levels easily. Many jurisdictions don’t require benefits for part-time workers below certain hour thresholds, reducing costs. Part-time positions attract workers unavailable for full-time commitments (students, parents, retirees) and enable businesses to staff busy periods without paying for coverage during slow times.
For workers
Workers gain more time for personal priorities, family, education, or other pursuits. Part-time jobs create opportunities to hold multiple positions or build a business. Reduced hours can mean less pressure and better work-life balance, while enabling career exploration across different fields without full-time commitment.
What are the drawbacks?
For employers
Part-time workers may leave more frequently for full-time opportunities, creating higher turnover. Training more people for the same total hours of coverage increases overhead. Coordinating multiple part-timers is more complicated than managing fewer full-time staff, and part-timers may miss information shared when they’re not working.
For workers
Many employers don’t offer health insurance, retirement plans, or paid time off to part-timers. Fewer hours mean less money, and hours may vary unpredictably, creating income instability. Promotion paths often favor full-time employees, and part-time positions may be eliminated first during cutbacks.
What legal protections apply to part-time workers?
Benefits requirements
Regulations vary significantly by jurisdiction. In the United States, the Affordable Care Act may require employers to offer health insurance to those averaging around 30 hours per week or more, leading many employers to set part-time thresholds below this level. Part-time workers still qualify for legally required benefits like Social Security and workers’ compensation. Some countries mandate proportional benefits for part-time workers (pro-rated vacation, retirement contributions).
Wage and hour laws
Part-time employees are entitled to the same wage protections as full-time workers. Minimum wage applies regardless of hours worked, and overtime rules apply if part-timers exceed standard thresholds (often around 40 hours per week). Pay frequency and final paycheck requirements apply equally. Similar to how hourly rate calculations work, part-time pay must meet all minimum wage and overtime requirements.
Other protections
Part-time workers typically receive the same legal protections as full-time staff: anti-discrimination laws, workplace safety regulations enforced by OSHA, family and medical leave (if they meet hours-worked thresholds), unemployment insurance eligibility, and the right to organize and collective bargaining.
Specific requirements vary by location. Consult employment law professionals or regulatory agencies for your jurisdiction. The National Labor Relations Board provides information on workers’ rights to organize.
How can employers make part-time work successful?
Offer as much advance notice and schedule consistency as possible. Consider pro-rated vacation, sick time, or retirement contributions to improve retention. Keep part-timers informed about organizational updates and don’t automatically exclude them from promotions or development opportunities. Honor the reduced-hour arrangement and avoid regularly pushing for additional time.
How can part-time workers succeed?
Understand exactly what hours, flexibility, and work availability are expected upfront. Be clear about your availability and limitations from the start. Stay engaged by participating in team communications and activities when possible. Many part-time workers benefit from on-the-job training to develop skills that lead to advancement. Document hours worked, shifts scheduled, and pay received for accuracy through a clear duty roster, and budget for income variability and lack of benefits if applicable. Understanding fireable offenses and workplace policies helps you maintain good standing in your part-time role. Some employers evaluate part-time performance using behaviorally anchored rating scales.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours is considered part-time? Most employers consider part-time to be anything less than 35–40 hours per week, though there’s no universal definition.
Do part-time employees get benefits? It depends on the employer and jurisdiction—some companies offer pro-rated benefits while others provide limited or no benefits to part-time staff.
Can part-time workers collect unemployment? Generally yes, if they lose their part-time job through no fault of their own and meet their state’s earnings and work-history requirements.
Can I turn down extra hours if I’m part-time? Usually yes—your employment agreement specifies expected hours, and employers generally cannot force you to work beyond that without your agreement.
What’s the difference between part-time and seasonal work? Part-time refers to reduced weekly hours, while seasonal employment refers to work during specific times of the year—a job can be both part-time and seasonal.
Is part-time work better than multiple gig jobs? Part-time employment offers payroll status with benefits and protections, while gig work provides more autonomy but less stability—the choice depends on your priorities and financial needs.
