The reasons that women gave for working part-time in 1979 and 1985 are summarized in FIGURE 16 and elaborated for women in various age groups in FIGURE 17. Note especially:

• Women in 1985 were more likely than they were in 1979 to be working part-time because they are unable to find full-time work (15% gave this answer in 1979, 27% in 1985).
  
  
• Even though women with young children are now more likely to be in the workforce, they are less likely than they were in the past to cite "family responsibilities" as the reason that they work part-time (17% in 1979, 12% in 1985). However, it is important to note that, in 1985, only 1% of men name family responsibilities as their reason for working part-time.
  
  
• Age, of course, affects why women work part- time: women who are 15-24 years old are more likely than older women to cite "school attendance" as the reason; women age 25-54 are more likely than others to mention "family responsibilities" or the inability to find full-time work; older women (55+) are more likely than younger women to say they do not want to work full-time.

FIGARE 16

Changes in Reasons Given by Women for Part-Time Work 1979 - 1985

Source: The Labor Force Survey (Monthly) #71-001