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The Most Underemployed Jobs In America

This article is more than 8 years old.

The familiar saying bemoans the circumstances of those "overworked and underpaid." But what about those who find themselves working part-time when they want to be working full-time, in jobs that don't utilize their skills and training?

The jobs that appear on this list reflect the highest levels of underemployment, determined by the percentage of respondents in a particular job who responded "Yes" or "I'm not sure" when asked by PayScale, "Do you consider yourself underemployed?" Percentages of underemployment were determined by the number of respondents who stated, "I am not working in a job that uses my education or training" and "I am working part-time but want full-time work."

Only responses from workers holding an associate's degree or above were included in these percentages.

This methodology reflects a change from previous PayScale releases on the subject of underemployment, which also took into account whether workers felt underpaid. "We found," said PayScale, in a statement, "that most respondents who believed they were underpaid were in fact paid well within the normal range."

Topping the list of underemployed jobs is Cashier. More than three quarters of those who hold this job--77%--feel underemployed, with 46% reporting that they work part-time but want full-time work, and 62% saying they are in a job that does not use their education or training. Median pay for an early-career Cashier is $25,200; by mid-career, median pay in this job has risen to just $28,300.

Further down the list, 65% of Patient Services Representatives feel underemployed. These workers perform a variety of tasks, verifying information, accepting payments, and often serving as the first and primary point of contact for patients in hospitals and medical offices. About half say they work part-time but desire full-time work, with a roughly equal percentage saying the job does not utilize their education or training. Mid-career median pay in this field is $32,200.

Many of the positions on this list being to support staff workers. Personal Assistant makes the list, as does Receptionist, and Office Clerk. Security Guards and Bank Tellers also report feelings of underemployment, as do Retail Associates, and Orderlies.

To view the full list of The 10 Most Underemployed Jobs In America Right Now, click here. 

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