Fri., August 17, 2012 7:35am (EDT)

WORKING: Underemployment
By Joshua Stewart
Updated: 10 months ago

ATLANTA  —  
Georgia’s underemployment rate for the 12 months ending in June was 16.4 percent. These are people who want more work but cannot find it. Brandon Smith talks about whether it’s better to be underemployed and getting something on your resume or unemployed and focusing all your efforts on the job search. (Photo Courtesy of Noel Abejo via stock.xchng.)
Georgia’s underemployment rate for the 12 months ending in June was 16.4 percent. These are people who want more work but cannot find it. Brandon Smith talks about whether it’s better to be underemployed and getting something on your resume or unemployed and focusing all your efforts on the job search. (Photo Courtesy of Noel Abejo via stock.xchng.)
Georgia’s underemployment rate for the 12 months ending in June was 16.4 percent, including a full 5 percent of workers who have been forced into part-time work because of the economy, even though they want a full-time job.

Underemployment is tricky – it would seem to be better than having no job at all, but does it complicate the search for full-time work? Our working expert Brandon Smith weighs in on which is better as you search for full-time work.

Brandon Smith teaches about leadership, communication, and workplace culture at Emory University's Goizueta Business School. More of his advice is on his blog and at theworkplacetherapist.com. While you’re there, ask him your workplace or career question. We might use your question on a future radio segment.