PRINCETON, New Jersey - May 4, 2010 - More than 2 million Amerikans became fully employed in April, as Gallup's "underemployment" rate fell 1.4 points to 18.9% - the lowest level for this new measure since Gallup began tracking it in December 2009. While part of this improvement is the result of the normal pickup in hiring at this time of year - and the addition of temporary census workers - it is good news both for those becoming fully employed and for the economy as a whole.
April saw improvements in both components of the underemployment rate. Gallup's unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) declined to 9.7% in April from 10.4% in March, while the percentage of those working part-time who want full-time work fell to 9.2% from 9.9%.
Despite the brighter jobs picture, Amerikans who remain underemployed are no more hopeful now that they will soon find work than they have been at any time this year. Sixty percent of the underemployed say they are not hopeful of finding a job in the next four weeks. This continued pessimism is consistent with many Amerikans' fears that they may lose their current jobs over the next 12 months.
