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Technical information: (202) 691-6378
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
Media contact:

691-5902

USDL 02-225
For release: 10:00 A.M. EDT
Thursday, April 18, 2002

WORKERS ON FLEXIBLE AND SHIFT SCHEDULES IN 2001

In May 2001, about 29 million full-time wage and salary workers had
flexible work schedules that allowed them to vary the time they began or
ended work, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor
reported today. The proportion of workers with such schedules was 28.8
percent, slightly higher than the figure of 27.6 percent recorded when the
data were last collected in May 1997 and nearly double the proportion 10
years earlier. (See table A.)
These findings were obtained from a supplement to the May 2001 Current
Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is the monthly household survey that
provides information on national employment and unemployment. In May 2001,
the survey also collected information about flexible schedules, shift work,
and other related topics. The data presented in this release pertain to
wage and salary workers who usually worked full time (35 or more hours per
week) on their main job. For further information about the survey, see the
Technical Note. Some of the highlights from the 2001 data are:
--Among full-time wage and salary workers, 28.8 percent had flexible work
schedules, and about one-third of these workers (11.1 percent of the total)
worked flexible hours as part of a formal employer-sponsored flexitime
program.
--Men were somewhat more likely to work flexible schedules than women
(30.0 percent and 27.4 percent, respectively).
--The proportion of full-time wage and salary workers who usually work a
shift other than a daytime schedule (14.5 percent) had drifted down since
May 1991.
--The proportion of workers with flexible schedules or alternative shifts
varied greatly by occupation.
Flexible schedules
Flexible schedules were more common among white workers (30.0 percent)
than black (21.2 percent) or Hispanic workers (19.8 percent). Among
whites, 31.0 percent of the men and 28.6 percent of the women had flexible

schedules. In contrast, among blacks and Hispanics, women were slightly
more likely than men to work flexible schedules. The proportions working
flexible schedules for most worker groups had risen slightly since 1997.
(See tables A and 1.)
Flexible schedules were most common among managerial and professional
specialty occupations, with 45.5 percent of executives, administrators, and
managers able to vary their work hours. Flexible schedules were also
prevalent among sales workers (40.7 percent). In contrast, only 18.3
percent of precision production, craft, and repair workers and 13.7 percent
of operators, fabricators, and laborers had such flexibility. (See table 2.)
- 2 Table A. Flexible schedules and shift work of full-time wage and salary
workers by sex, race, and Hispanic origin, May, selected years, 1985-2001
---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|
|
Percent with flexible
|
Percent with alternate
|
Schedules
|
shifts
Characteristic
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------| May | May | May | May | May | May | May | May
| 1985 | 1991 | 1997 | 2001 | 1985 | 1991 | 1997 | 2001
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Sex
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total, 16 years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and over..........| 12.4 | 15.0 | 27.6 | 28.8 | 16.0 | 18.0 | 16.9 | 14.5
Men..............| 13.1 | 15.4 | 28.6 | 30.0 | 17.9 | 20.4 | 19.2 | 16.4
Women............| 11.3 | 14.5 | 26.2 | 27.4 | 13.2 | 14.8 | 13.7 | 12.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Race and Hispanic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
origin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White............| 12.8 | 15.4 | 28.6 | 30.0 | 15.5 | 17.2 | 16.2 | 13.6
Black............| 9.1 | 12.0 | 20.1 | 21.2 | 20.0 | 23.3 | 21.0 | 19.7
Hispanic origin..| 8.9 | 10.6 | 18.2 | 19.8 | 15.5 | 19.2 | 16.2 | 14.8
---------------------------------------------------------------------------Note: Data are tabulated for all employed persons. Estimates for years
prior to 2001 may differ slightly from those previously published, which
were tabulated only for persons at work. See the Technical Note for
further information. Data exclude the incorporated and unincorporated selfemployed.
Among private-sector employees, the proportion of workers with flexible

schedules was much higher in service-producing industries (33.3 percent)
than in goods-producing industries (23.1 percent). In the public sector,
flexible schedules were more common among federal (34.4 percent) and state
government employees (29.7 percent) than among workers in local government
(14.0 percent). Local government includes public elementary and secondary
schools, and teachers and other school employees tend to work fixed schedules.
(See table 2.)
Formal flexitime programs
Although over 1 in 4 workers can vary their schedules, only about 1 in
10 are enrolled in a formal, employer-sponsored flexitime program. Fulltime wage and salary workers in managerial and professional specialty
occupations, who were most likely to work flexible schedules, were also the
most likely to have a formal flexitime program (15.6 percent). Even so,
only about 2 out of 5 managers and professionals with flexible hours
participated in a formal flexitime program. Among operators, fabricators,
and laborers, just 5.5 percent worked flexible hours as part of a formal
flexitime program, mirroring this group's small overall proportion of
workers with flexible schedules. (See table 3.)
Formal flexitime programs were more common in the public sector than in
private-sector industries. Over half the workers in the public sector with
flexible schedules had a formal program, reflecting the high proportion of
federal workers with formal programs. Nearly three-quarters of federal
government workers with flexible schedules participated in a formal
flexitime program. In the private sector, only about one-third of those
with flexible schedules (10.9 percent of the total employed full time)
participated in a formal flexitime program. (See tables 2 and 3.)
- 3 Shift work
About 14.5 million full-time wage and salary workers, 14.5 percent
of the total, usually worked an alternate shift. By type of shift,
4.8 percent of the total worked evening shifts, 3.3 percent worked night
shifts, 2.8 percent worked employer-arranged irregular schedules, and
2.3 percent worked rotating shifts. The proportion of full-time wage and
salary workers on alternate shift schedules fell from 18.0 percent in
May 1991. (See tables A and 4.)
Men were more likely than women to work an alternate shift (16.4 percent
and 12.1 percent, respectively). Blacks were more likely than either whites
or Hispanics to work such shifts.

The prevalence of shift work was greatest among workers in serviceoriented occupations, such as protective service (49.0 percent)--which
includes police, firefighters, and guards--and food service (40.4 percent),
and among those employed as operators, fabricators, and laborers
(25.4 percent). Alternative shifts were least common among managers and
professionals (6.7 percent), those in administrative support occupations
(8.4 percent), and workers in farming, forestry, and fishing occupations
(5.6 percent). (See table 5.)
In private-sector industries, the percent of workers on alternative
shifts was highest in eating and drinking places (46.2 percent) and lowest
in construction (2.5 percent) and finance, insurance, and real estate (4.6
percent). Shift work generally was less common in the public sector,
averaging only 11.1 percent. One notable exception was the public safety
component of local government, where shift work is quite common in law
enforcement and firefighting. (See table 5.)
Reasons for shift work
Over half (53.3 percent) of those working an alternative shift did so
because it was the "nature of the job." Other reasons for working a nondaytime schedule included "personal preference" (13.3 percent), "better
arrangements for family or child care" (8.9 percent), "better pay" (6.9
percent), and "because it allows time for school" (3.3 percent). Many of
those who worked night and evening shifts chose such schedules due to
personal preference (21.5 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively) or
because these shifts facilitated better arrangements for family or child
care (14.9 percent and 12.1 percent, respectively). (See table 6.)
Beginning and ending hours
The May supplement also provides data on the times people began and
ended work. About two-thirds of all full-time wage and salary workers
began work between 6:30 A.M. and 9:29 A.M., with the greatest concentration
during the one-hour period around 8 A.M. (7:30 to 8:29 A.M.). Almost threefifths usually left work between 3:30 P.M. and 6:29 P.M., with times within
the one-hour bracket centered by 5 P.M. (4:30 to 5:29 P.M.) by far the most
frequently reported. (See table 7.)
TECHNICAL NOTE

These data and other information on work schedules were obtained from a
supplement to the May 2001 Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a
monthly sample survey of about 60,000 households conducted by the U.S.
Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), principally to

gather information on employment and unemployment for the nation. (Data
for May 2001 were based on a sample size of 50,000 households.) Respondents
to the May 2001 supplement answered questions about flexible and shift schedules, the reasons for working particular shifts, the beginning and ending
hours of work, formal flexitime programs, home-based work, and other related
topics. The data in this release cover the incidence and nature of flexible
and shift schedules and pertain to wage and salary workers who usually worked
35 hours or more per week on their principal job.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling
error. When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there
is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies
depending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured
by the standard error of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance,
or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no
more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value because of
sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level
of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error
can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of
the population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the
sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and for
information on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of Employment and Earnings.
Concepts
Data on flexible schedules, shift work, and beginning and ending hours
of work were obtained from the following questions:
Beginning and ending hours of work. At what time of day do you begin work
on your (main) job most days?
1.
__hour __minutes A.M./P.M.
2.
It varies
At what time of day do you end work on your main job most days?

1.
2.

__hour __minutes A.M./P.M.
It varies

Flexible schedules. Do you have flexible work hours that allow you to vary
or make changes in the time you begin and end work?
1.
Yes
2.
No
Formal flexitime programs. (If the respondent answers “yes” to the above
question on flexible hours, the following question is then asked.) Is your
flexible work schedule part of a flexitime or other program offered by your
employer?
1.
Yes
2.
No
Shift work. On your (main) job, do you usually work a daytime schedule or
some other schedule?
1.
A daytime schedule (Anytime between 6 A.M. to 6 P.M.)
2.
Some other schedule
(If the respondent answers "some other schedule" to the above
question, then the following question is asked to determine the
shift worked.)
Which of the following best describes the hours you usually work at this
(main) job?
1.
An evening shift (Anytime between 2 P.M. and midnight)
2.
A night shift (Anytime between 9 P.M. to 8 A.M.)
3.
A rotating shift - one that changes periodically from days to evenings
or night
4.
A split shift - one consisting of two distinct periods each day
5.
An irregular schedule
6.
Some other shift
Reason for alternative shift. What is the main reason why you work this
type of shift? (Interviewer reads all.)
1.
Better arrangements for family or child care
2.
Better pay
3.
Allows time for school
4.
Could not get any other job
5.
Local transportation or pollution control program
6.
Nature of the job
7.
Personal preference
8.
Some other reason
Special notes on May 2001 flexible schedule and shift work data

This release focuses on total employed wage and salary workers who
worked full time on their main job in May 2001. The previous news release
on flexible schedules and shift work (USDL 98-119; March 26, 1998) examined
data from a CPS supplement conducted in May 1997. That news release
focused on full-time wage and salary workers who were at work during the
survey reference week. Unlike total employed data, at work data exclude
persons who were employed but absent from work for the entire reference
week. Because of this difference in focus, data from this release are not
strictly comparable to those presented in USDL 98-119. In switching to a
total employed universe, the numbers of persons working a flexible schedule
or alternate shift are slightly higher, reflecting the inclusion of persons
with a job but not at work during the survey reference week. However, the
proportions of full-time wage and salary workers on flexible schedules or
working a specific shift were little affected by this change.
Data on beginning and ending hours also differ somewhat from those
previously published in USDL 98-119, because the wording of the question
was changed. In the May 1997 survey, the questions referred to the
beginning and ending hours "last week," that is, during the survey
reference week. In the May 2001 survey, the question was rephrased to
identify usual activity, referring to beginning and ending hours of work
"most days."
Table 1. Flexible schedules: Full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, May 2001
(Numbers in thousands)

Both sexes

Men

With flexible
schedules

Characteristic
Total(1)

Women

With flexible
schedules
Total(1)

Number

Percent
of total

With flexible
schedules
Total(1)

Number

Percent
of total

Number

Percent
of total

Age
Total 16 years and over.............
16 to 19 years..........................
20 years and over.......................
20 to 24 years........................
25 to 34 years........................
35 to 44 years........................

99,631
1,761
97,871
9,343
24,552
28,702

28,724
339
28,385
2,327
7,434
8,578

28.8
19.2
29.0
24.9
30.3
29.9

56,066
988
55,078
5,219
14,058
16,522

16,792
167
16,625
1,203
4,370
5,120

30.0
16.9
30.2
23.0
31.1
31.0

43,566
773
42,793
4,124
10,494
12,180

11,931
171
11,760
1,124
3,064
3,458

27.4
22.2
27.5
27.2
29.2
28.4

45 to 54 years........................
55 to 64 years........................
65 years and over.....................
16 to 24 years..........................
25 to 54 years..........................
55 years and over.......................

23,946
9,971
1,357
11,104
77,200
11,328

6,990
2,633
423
2,665
23,002
3,056

29.2
26.4
31.2
24.0
29.8
27.0

12,902
5,531
847
6,206
43,482
6,377

4,032
1,590
311
1,370
13,521
1,901

31.2
28.8
36.7
22.1
31.1
29.8

11,044
4,440
510
4,897
33,718
4,950

2,958
1,043
112
1,295
9,481
1,155

26.8
23.5
22.0
26.4
28.1
23.3

82,205
12,390
11,919

24,647
2,629
2,356

30.0
21.2
19.8

47,498
5,776
7,305

14,734
1,209
1,344

31.0
20.9
18.4

34,707
6,614
4,614

9,913
1,420
1,011

28.6
21.5
21.9

57,728
41,903
24,877
17,026

17,264
11,460
6,817
4,643

29.9
27.3
27.4
27.3

34,939
21,126
14,030
7,096

11,231
5,561
3,736
1,825

32.1
26.3
26.6
25.7

22,789
20,777
10,847
9,930

6,032
5,899
3,081
2,818

26.5
28.4
28.4
28.4

60,026
39,605
22,697
16,908

16,927
11,796
6,648
5,148

28.2
29.8
29.3
30.4

33,565
22,500
11,960
10,540

9,621
7,171
3,836
3,336

28.7
31.9
32.1
31.6

26,461
17,105
10,737
6,368

7,306
4,625
2,813
1,812

27.6
27.0
26.2
28.5

Race and Hispanic origin
White...................................
Black...................................
Hispanic origin.........................
Marital status
Married, spouse present.................
Not married.............................
Never married.........................
Other marital status..................
Presence and age of children
Without own children under 18...........
With own children under 18..............
With youngest child 6 to 17...........
With youngest child under 6...........

1 Includes persons who did not provide information on flexible schedules.
NOTE: Data relate to the sole or principal job of full-time wage and salary workers and exclude all self-employed
persons, regardless of whether or not their businesses were incorporated. Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin
groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races" group are not presented and Hispanics are included in
both the white and black population groups. Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children.
Not included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.

Table 2.

Flexible schedules: Full-time wage and salary workers by sex, occupation, and industry, May 2001

(Numbers in thousands)

Both sexes

Occupation and industry

With flexible
schedules

Men

With flexible
schedules

Women

With flexible
schedules

Total(1)

Total(1)
Number

Total, 16 years and over.....................

Percent
of total

Total(1)
Number

Percent
of total

Number

Percent
of total

99,631

28,724

28.8

56,066

16,792

30.0

43,566

11,931

27.4

Managerial and professional specialty........
Executive, administrative, and managerial..
Professional specialty.....................
Mathematical and computer scientists.....
Natural scientists.......................
Teachers, college and university.........

32,960
16,279
16,681
1,930
461
661

13,326
7,404
5,922
1,134
241
395

40.4
45.5
35.5
58.7
52.4
59.8

16,785
8,748
8,037
1,308
289
386

7,954
4,277
3,678
770
154
251

47.4
48.9
45.8
58.9
53.4
65.1

16,175
7,531
8,644
623
172
275

5,372
3,128
2,244
364
87
144

33.2
41.5
26.0
58.4
50.7
52.3

Technical, sales, and administrative support.
Technicians and related support............
Sales occupations..........................
Sales workers, retail and personal
services................................
Administrative support, including clerical.

27,607
3,757
9,852

8,617
1,181
4,011

31.2
31.4
40.7

10,493
1,863
5,424

3,840
683
2,404

36.6
36.7
44.3

17,113
1,894
4,428

4,777
498
1,607

27.9
26.3
36.3

3,146
13,997

901
3,426

28.6
24.5

1,346
3,206

419
753

31.1
23.5

1,800
10,791

482
2,672

26.8
24.8

Service occupations..........................
Private household..........................
Protective service.........................
Service, except private household and
protective................................
Food service.............................
Health service...........................
Cleaning and building service............
Personal service.........................

12,382
377
2,144

2,572
132
343

20.8
35.0
16.0

6,463
5
1,773

1,283
3
291

19.9
(2)
16.4

5,919
371
371

1,289
129
52

21.8
34.8
14.0

8,207
3,036
1,829
2,151
1,192

1,755
696
304
326
429

21.4
22.9
16.6
15.2
36.0

3,324
1,517
222
1,287
299

698
367
45
194
93

21.0
24.2
20.5
15.0
31.1

4,883
1,518
1,608
864
893

1,057
330
258
133
336

21.6
21.7
16.1
15.4
37.7

Precision production, craft, and repair......
Mechanics and repairers....................
Construction trades........................
Other precision production, craft, and
repair....................................

12,061
4,133
4,333

2,209
827
755

18.3
20.0
17.4

11,000
3,937
4,232

2,026
792
726

18.4
20.1
17.2

1,061
195
101

183
35
29

17.3
17.9
(2)

3,596

628

17.5

2,830

508

18.0

766

119

15.6

Operators, fabricators, and laborers.........
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors................................
Transportation and material moving.........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and
laborers..................................

14,621

1,999

13.7

11,324

1,689

14.9

3,297

310

9.4

6,220
4,735

614
946

9.9
20.0

3,994
4,380

457
867

11.4
19.8

2,227
355

157
79

7.1
22.2

3,667

439

12.0

2,951

365

12.4

716

74

10.3

Occupation

Farming, forestry, and fishing...............

1,653

342

20.7

1,360

291

21.4

293

51

17.5

Private sector...............................
Goods-producing industries.................
Agriculture..............................
Mining...................................
Construction.............................
Manufacturing............................
Durable goods..........................
Nondurable goods.......................

83,015
26,021
1,543
539
6,133
17,805
11,171
6,635

24,987
6,014
343
121
1,386
4,163
2,743
1,420

30.1
23.1
22.2
22.5
22.6
23.4
24.6
21.4

48,423
19,626
1,194
470
5,590
12,372
8,179
4,193

14,927
4,585
249
101
1,205
3,030
2,078
953

30.8
23.4
20.8
21.5
21.6
24.5
25.4
22.7

34,592
6,395
349
69
543
5,433
2,992
2,441

10,061
1,429
94
20
181
1,133
666
468

29.1
22.3
26.9
(2)
33.3
20.9
22.3
19.2

Service-producing industries...............
Transportation and public utilities......
Wholesale trade..........................
Retail trade.............................
Eating and drinking places.............
Finance, insurance, and real estate......
Services.................................
Private households.....................
Business, automobile, and repair.......
Personal, except private household.....
Entertainment and recreation...........
Professional services..................
Forestry and fisheries.................
Government...................................
Federal....................................
State......................................
Local......................................

56,995
6,961
4,319
13,038
3,436
6,645
26,031
416
6,646
1,954
1,215
15,777
24
16,616
3,140
4,868
8,608

18,974
2,068
1,528
3,989
1,045
2,687
8,701
149
2,473
609
489
4,970
11
3,736
1,079
1,447
1,209

33.3
29.7
35.4
30.6
30.4
40.4
33.4
35.8
37.2
31.2
40.2
31.5
(2)
22.5
34.4
29.7
14.0

28,797
5,069
3,123
7,042
1,830
2,614
10,949
14
4,344
823
762
4,984
22
7,642
1,817
2,125
3,701

10,342
1,444
1,121
2,154
546
1,287
4,335
7
1,640
244
303
2,132
10
1,865
584
669
613

35.9
28.5
35.9
30.6
29.8
49.2
39.6
(2)
37.8
29.6
39.7
42.8
(2)
24.4
32.1
31.5
16.6

28,197
1,892
1,196
5,995
1,605
4,031
15,082
402
2,301
1,130
453
10,794
2
8,974
1,324
2,743
4,907

8,632
624
407
1,835
499
1,400
4,366
142
833
365
186
2,838
1
1,871
495
779
597

30.6
33.0
34.0
30.6
31.1
34.7
28.9
35.4
36.2
32.3
41.1
26.3
(2)
20.8
37.4
28.4
12.2

Industry

1 Includes persons who did not provide information on flexible schedules.
2 Percent not shown where base is less than 75,000.
NOTE: Data relate to the sole or principal job of full-time wage and salary workers and exclude all self-employed persons,
regardless of whether or not their businesses were incorporated.

Table 3. Flexible schedules: Full-time wage and salary workers by formal flexitime program status,
occupation, and industry, May 2001
(Numbers in thousands)

With a formal flexitime
program

Occupation and industry
Total(1)

Total, 16 years and over.....................

With flexible
schedules
Number

Percent of
total employed

99,631

28,724

11,037

11.1

Managerial and professional specialty........
Executive, administrative, and managerial..
Professional specialty.....................
Mathematical and computer scientists.....
Natural scientists.......................
Teachers, college and university.........

32,960
16,279
16,681
1,930
461
661

13,326
7,404
5,922
1,134
241
395

5,130
2,748
2,382
571
143
85

15.6
16.9
14.3
29.6
31.1
12.8

Technical, sales, and administrative support.
Technicians and related support............
Sales occupations..........................
Sales workers, retail and personal
services................................
Administrative support, including clerical.

27,607
3,757
9,852

8,617
1,181
4,011

3,336
519
1,182

12.1
13.8
12.0

3,146
13,997

901
3,426

358
1,635

11.4
11.7

Service occupations..........................
Private household..........................
Protective service.........................
Service, except private household and
protective................................
Food service.............................
Health service...........................
Cleaning and building service............
Personal service.........................

12,382
377
2,144

2,572
132
343

982
39
178

7.9
10.4
8.3

8,207
3,036
1,829
2,151
1,192

1,755
696
304
326
429

662
220
152
112
177

8.1
7.3
8.3
5.2
14.9

Precision production, craft, and repair......
Mechanics and repairers....................
Construction trades........................
Other precision production, craft, and
repair....................................

12,061
4,133
4,333

2,209
827
755

787
289
256

6.5
7.0
5.9

3,596

628

243

6.8

Operators, fabricators, and laborers.........
Machine operators, assemblers, and

14,621

1,999

803

5.5

Occupation

inspectors................................
Transportation and material moving.........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and
laborers..................................

6,220
4,735

614
946

290
319

4.7
6.7

3,667

439

194

5.3

Farming, forestry, and fishing...............

1,653

342

102

6.2

Private sector...............................
Goods-producing industries.................
Agriculture..............................
Mining...................................
Construction.............................
Manufacturing............................
Durable goods..........................
Nondurable goods.......................

83,015
26,021
1,543
539
6,133
17,805
11,171
6,635

24,987
6,014
343
121
1,386
4,163
2,743
1,420

9,053
2,334
105
57
435
1,737
1,193
545

10.9
9.0
6.8
10.6
7.1
9.8
10.7
8.2

Service-producing industries...............
Transportation and public utilities......
Wholesale trade..........................
Retail trade.............................
Eating and drinking places.............
Finance, insurance, and real estate......
Services.................................
Private households.....................
Business, automobile, and repair.......
Personal, except private household.....
Entertainment and recreation...........
Professional services..................
Forestry and fisheries.................
Government...................................
Federal....................................
State......................................
Local......................................

56,995
6,961
4,319
13,038
3,436
6,645
26,031
416
6,646
1,954
1,215
15,777
24
16,616
3,140
4,868
8,608

18,974
2,068
1,528
3,989
1,045
2,687
8,701
149
2,473
609
489
4,970
11
3,736
1,079
1,447
1,209

6,719
805
433
1,331
319
1,090
3,060
49
967
232
197
1,613
3
1,984
778
730
475

11.8
11.6
10.0
10.2
9.3
16.4
11.8
11.7
14.5
11.9
16.2
10.2
(2)
11.9
24.8
15.0
5.5

Industry

1 Includes persons who did not provide information on flexible schedules.
2 Percent not shown where base is less than 75,000.
NOTE: Data relate to the sole or principal job of full-time wage and salary workers and exclude all
self-employed persons, regardless of whether or not their businesses were incorporated.

Table 4.

Shift usually worked: Full-time wage and salary workers by selected characteristics, May 2001

(Percent distribution)

Shift workers
Total
workers(1)
(thousands)

Characteristic

Regular
daytime
schedule

Total

Evening
shift

Night Rotating
shift
shift

Split
shift

Employerarranged
irregular
schedule

Other
shift

Age and sex
Total 16 years and over....................
16 to 19 years...............................
20 years and over............................
20 to 24 years.............................
25 to 34 years.............................
35 to 44 years.............................
45 to 54 years.............................
55 to 64 years.............................
65 years and over..........................
16 to 24 years...............................
25 to 54 years...............................
55 years and over............................

99,631
1,761
97,871
9,343
24,552
28,702
23,946
9,971
1,357
11,104
77,200
11,328

84.8
70.2
85.1
77.8
84.9
86.2
86.3
86.3
84.9
76.6
85.8
86.1

14.5
28.8
14.3
21.3
14.4
13.2
13.1
13.2
15.0
22.5
13.5
13.4

4.8
13.5
4.7
8.7
4.9
3.7
4.1
4.5
3.9
9.4
4.2
4.4

3.3
5.4
3.3
4.7
3.3
3.3
2.9
3.1
2.1
4.8
3.2
3.0

2.3
3.4
2.3
3.3
2.3
2.3
2.3
1.7
1.7
3.3
2.3
1.7

0.4
.3
.5
.4
.6
.4
.3
.4
1.3
.3
.4
.5

2.8
5.3
2.8
3.5
2.4
2.8
2.6
2.8
5.5
3.8
2.6
3.1

0.7
1.0
.7
.8
.8
.6
.8
.6
.5
.8
.7
.6

Men..........................................
Women........................................

56,066
43,566

82.9
87.3

16.4
12.1

5.2
4.3

3.6
3.0

2.8
1.8

.5
.4

3.3
2.1

.9
.5

82,205
12,390
11,919

85.8
79.3
84.3

13.6
19.7
14.8

4.4
7.0
5.8

3.0
5.0
3.4

2.2
3.3
2.0

.4
.5
.5

2.8
3.2
2.5

.7
.6
.5

Men:
Married, spouse present....................
Not married................................
Never married............................
Other marital status.....................

34,939
21,126
14,030
7,096

85.3
78.9
78.8
78.9

14.2
20.1
20.2
19.8

4.2
7.0
7.1
6.8

3.2
4.4
4.5
4.2

2.5
3.2
3.2
3.1

.4
.6
.6
.6

3.1
3.8
3.8
3.8

.8
1.0
1.0
1.0

Without own children under 18..............
With own children under 18.................

33,565
22,500

81.6
84.8

17.5
14.8

5.7
4.5

3.7
3.6

2.9
2.6

.6
.5

3.7
2.8

.9
.8

Race and Hispanic origin
White........................................
Black........................................
Hispanic origin..............................
Marital status and presence
and age of children

With youngest child 6 to 17..............
With youngest child under 6..............

11,960
10,540

85.0
84.6

14.7
14.8

4.2
4.9

3.6
3.5

2.9
2.3

.5
.4

2.9
2.8

.7
.8

Women:
Married, spouse present....................
Not married................................
Never married............................
Other marital status.....................

22,789
20,777
10,847
9,930

90.6
83.7
83.3
84.2

9.0
15.5
15.9
15.0

3.0
5.8
6.3
5.4

2.6
3.4
3.0
3.8

1.2
2.3
2.7
1.9

.2
.5
.6
.4

1.7
2.6
2.6
2.7

.4
.7
.6
.7

Without own children under 18..............
With own children under 18.................
With youngest child 6 to 17..............
With youngest child under 6..............

26,461
17,105
10,737
6,368

86.6
88.4
89.3
86.9

12.7
11.0
10.0
12.8

4.6
3.9
3.0
5.5

2.8
3.3
3.1
3.4

1.9
1.6
1.5
1.6

.4
0.3
.3
.3

2.4
1.7
1.7
1.7

.6
0.3
.3
.3

1 Includes persons who did not provide information on shift usually worked.
NOTE: Data relate to the sole or principal job of full-time wage and salary workers and exclude all self-employed
persons, regardless of whether or not their businesses were incorporated. Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin
groups will not sum to totals because data for the "other races" group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both
the white and black population groups. Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not
included are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.

Table 5.

Shift usually worked: Full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and industry, May 2001

(Percent distribution)

Shift workers
Total
workers(1)
(thousands)

Occupation and industry

Regular
daytime
schedule

Total

Evening

Night

Rotating

Split

Employerarranged

shift

shift

shift

shift

irregular

Other
shift
schedule

Total, 16 years and over....................

99,631

84.8

14.5

4.8

3.3

2.3

0.4

2.8

0.7

32,960
16,279
16,681

92.8
93.9
91.7

6.7
5.6
7.8

1.7
1.6
1.7

1.2
.7
1.7

1.1
1.0
1.1

.3
.2
.3

2.2
1.8
2.5

.3
.3
.4

Occupation
Managerial and professional specialty.......
Executive, administrative, and managerial.
Professional specialty....................

Mathematical and computer scientists....
Natural scientists......................
Teachers, college and university........

1,930
461
661

96.7
98.5
92.5

2.3
1.3
7.5

.5
.6
1.6

-

.7

.2

-

.5

.7
.7
4.0

.4

.8

Technical, sales, and administrative support
Technicians and related support...........
Sales occupations.........................
Sales workers, retail and personal
services...............................
Administrative support, including clerical

27,607
3,757
9,852

87.7
83.9
84.3

11.8
15.6
15.2

3.8
3.8
4.1

2.2
4.2
1.3

2.0
2.4
3.6

.3
.1
.3

2.8
3.8
5.2

.6
1.4
.5

3,146
13,997

72.9
91.1

26.4
8.4

8.9
3.6

2.5
2.4

6.2
.7

.4
.4

7.4
.9

.9
.4

Service occupations.........................
Private household.........................
Protective service........................
Service, except private household and
protective...............................
Food service............................
Health service..........................
Cleaning and building service...........
Personal service........................

12,382
377
2,144

68.0
82.8
49.8

30.9
15.6
49.0

12.1
1.0
12.4

5.7
.5
9.7

4.8
.7
12.3

1.1
.7
1.1

5.0
9.4
8.1

2.1
3.3
5.4

8,207
3,036
1,829
2,151
1,192

66.9
58.2
68.7
72.7
75.9

32.0
40.4
30.3
26.4
23.6

14.5
18.9
11.4
15.3
7.1

5.9
4.2
8.9
7.0
3.5

3.9
5.8
4.0
1.4
3.1

1.3
1.6
1.5
.4
1.7

4.7
7.0
3.0
1.9
6.7

1.5
2.3
1.6
.2
1.5

Precision production, craft, and repair.....
Mechanics and repairers...................
Construction trades.......................
Other precision production, craft, and
repair...................................

12,061
4,133
4,333

87.4
86.7
95.4

12.0
12.5
4.1

4.0
4.5
1.0

3.6
4.1
1.0

2.3
1.8
1.0

.3
.3
.1

1.3
1.4
1.0

.5
.4
-

3,596

78.5

20.9

7.1

6.2

4.4

.4

1.5

1.3

Operators, fabricators, and laborers........
Machine operators, assemblers, and
inspectors...............................
Transportation and material moving........
Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and
laborers.................................

14,621

73.6

25.4

8.4

8.0

3.7

.6

3.8

.8

6,220
4,735

70.6
75.1

28.4
23.6

12.0
4.5

10.0
4.6

4.4
4.2

.4
1.0

1.3
8.0

.3
1.1

3,667

76.7

22.6

7.3

8.9

1.9

.6

2.4

1.4

Farming, forestry, and fishing..............

1,653

93.5

5.6

2.3

.8

.7

.5

1.0

.3

83,015
26,021
1,543
539
6,133
17,805
11,171
6,635

84.1
85.1
92.2
74.4
96.7
80.7
83.4
76.3

15.2
14.3
7.1
25.6
2.5
18.7
16.0
23.2

5.1
5.3
2.1
2.4
.3
7.4
7.6
7.1

3.5
4.5
1.2
4.6
.4
6.2
4.9
8.4

2.4
2.5
1.1
11.3
.4
3.0
1.9
4.9

0.5
.3
.6
.6
.3
.3
.4

3.0
1.3
2.0
4.1
1.2
1.2
.9
1.8

0.6
.4
.1
2.5
.4
.4
.4

-

-

.2
.1

Industry
Private sector..............................
Goods-producing industries................
Agriculture.............................
Mining..................................
Construction............................
Manufacturing...........................
Durable goods.........................
Nondurable goods......................

Service-producing industries..............
Transportation and public utilities.....
Wholesale trade.........................
Retail trade............................
Eating and drinking places............
Finance, insurance, and real estate.....
Services................................
Private households....................
Business, automobile, and repair......
Personal, except private household....
Entertainment and recreation..........
Professional services.................
Forestry and fisheries................
Government..................................
Federal...................................
State.....................................
Local.....................................

56,995
6,961
4,319
13,038
3,436
6,645
26,031
416
6,646
1,954
1,215
15,777
24
16,616
3,140
4,868
8,608

83.7
78.2
92.0
73.0
52.8
94.8
86.3
78.5
88.7
79.3
71.0
87.6
(2)
88.3
87.2
89.8
87.9

15.6
20.7
7.7
26.1
46.2
4.6
13.0
20.1
10.5
19.6
29.0
11.8
(2)
11.1
12.1
9.6
11.6

5.0
4.9
2.2
8.8
18.6
1.7
4.5
.9
4.4
9.1
10.2
3.6
(2)
3.4
3.7
3.4
3.3

3.0
3.5
2.0
4.1
5.0
.5
3.2
1.2
3.2
2.1
4.2
3.3
(2)
2.5
4.9
2.5
1.6

2.3
3.8
.6
4.8
8.0
.4
1.4
1.9
.7
1.9
5.2
1.3
(2)
2.2
1.9
1.5
2.6

.5
1.0
.9
1.8
.2
.4
.7
.2
.5
1.1
.5
(2)
.4
.2
.5
.3

3.8
6.3
2.1
6.3
9.9
1.6
2.8
11.3
1.7
4.8
6.8
2.5
(2)
1.6
.8
1.3
2.1

.8
1.1
.6
1.1
2.4
.2
.7
4.0
.4
.9
1.2
.6
(2)
1.0
.6
.4
1.6

1 Includes persons who did not provide information on shift usually worked.
2 Percent not shown where base is less than 75,000.
NOTE: Data relate to the sole or principal job of full-time wage and salary workers and exclude all self-employed persons,
regardless of whether or not their businesses were incorporated. Dash represents zero.

Table 6.

Full-time wage and salary shift workers by reason for working a non-daytime schedule, May 2001

(Percent distribution)

Total
shift
workers
(1)

Evening
shift

Night
shift

Rotating
shift

Split
shift

Employerarranged
irregular
schedule

Other
shift

Number(2)(thousands).....................
Percent(2)...............................

14,461
100.0

4,816
100.0

3,318
100.0

2,315
100.0

446
100.0

2,804
100.0

706
100.0

Better arrangements for family or child
care....................................
Better pay.................................
Allows time for school.....................
Could not get any other job................
Nature of the job..........................

8.9
6.9
3.3
6.6
53.3

12.1
7.8
6.1
9.1
38.9

14.9
11.2
2.5
8.9
32.0

3.0
5.7
2.1
3.4
76.8

7.1
4.5
2.1
4.6
65.1

2.5
2.6
1.2
3.2
79.5

5.8
4.1
.8
3.6
67.2

Reason for working a non-daytime schedule

Personal preference........................
Some other reason..........................

13.3
6.2

17.3
7.2

21.5
7.2

3.3
4.8

10.2
5.9

6.4
4.2

1 Includes persons who worked a non-daytime schedule, but did not report the shift worked.
2 Includes persons who worked a non-daytime schedule, but did not report a reason.
NOTE: Data relate to the sole or principal job of full-time wage and salary workers and exclude all
self-employed persons, regardless of whether or not their businesses were incorporated.

Table 7.

Beginning and ending hours: Full-time wage and salary workers, May 2001

(Numbers in thousands)

Beginning time

Ending time

Time

Total, 16 years and over................

Number of
workers

Percent

Number of
workers

Percent

99,631

100.0

99,631

100.0

80
140
193
484
1,754
6,720
863
5,857
20,268
3,197
17,071
32,086
8,439
23,646
13,356
6,036
7,320
2,226
670

.1
.1
.2
.5
1.8
6.7
.9
5.9
20.3
3.2
17.1
32.2
8.5
23.7
13.4
6.1
7.3
2.2
.7

481
353
274
203
289
564
82
482
1,520
214
1,306
636
226
410
195
102
93
81
91

.5
.4
.3
.2
.3
.6
.1
.5
1.5
.2
1.3
.6
.2
.4
.2
.1
.1
.1
.1

AM
12:30 to 1:29.........................
1:30 to 2:29..........................
2:30 to 3:29..........................
3:30 to 4:29..........................
4:30 to 5:29..........................
5:30 to 6:29..........................
5:30 to 5:59........................
6:00 to 6:29........................
6:30 to 7:29..........................
6:30 to 6:59........................
7:00 to 7:29........................
7:30 to 8:29..........................
7:30 to 7:59........................
8:00 to 8:29........................
8:30 to 9:29..........................
8:30 to 8:59........................
9:00 to 9:29........................
9:30 to 10:29.........................
10:30 to 11:29........................

10.0
8.5

11:30 AM to 12:29 PM....................

447

.4

199

.2

12:30 to 1:29.........................
1:30 to 2:29..........................
2:30 to 3:29..........................
2:30 to 2:59........................
3:00 to 3:29........................
3:30 to 4:29..........................
3:30 to 3:59........................
4:00 to 4:29........................
4:30 to 5:29..........................
4:30 to 4:59........................
5:00 to 5:29........................
5:30 to 6:29..........................
5:30 to 5:59........................
6:00 to 6:29........................
6:30 to 7:29..........................
7:30 to 8:29..........................
8:30 to 9:29..........................
9:30 to 10:29.........................
10:30 to 11:29........................

405
849
1,917
363
1,554
1,293
452
841
528
152
376
445
64
381
624
500
317
522
982

.4
.9
1.9
.4
1.6
1.3
.5
.8
.5
.2
.4
.4
.1
.4
.6
.5
.3
.5
1.0

474
1,849
7,610
1,903
5,707
16,876
6,373
10,504
28,536
7,667
20,868
12,066
4,870
7,196
4,407
1,877
1,007
953
1,805

.5
1.9
7.6
1.9
5.7
16.9
6.4
10.5
28.6
7.7
20.9
12.1
4.9
7.2
4.4
1.9
1.0
1.0
1.8

11:30 PM to 12:29 AM....................

349

0.3

1,400

1.4

Time varies.............................

11,078

11.1

14,454

14.5

Actual time not available...............

1,393

1.4

1,429

1.4

PM

NOTE: Data relate to the sole or principal job of full-time wage and salary workers and exclude
all self-employed persons, regardless of whether or not their businesses were incorporated.