Rural workers more likely on nontraditional shifts

Rural workers are more likely to work nontraditional shifts, according to a study by The Carsey Institute of the University of New Hampshire. Demographic differences were also noted, and male rural workers outnumber females across all shifts, Rogelio Saenz reports.

The report analyzed four shifts based on work arrival time: 12 to 5:59 a.m., 6 to 11:59 a.m., 12 p.m. to 5:59 p.m., and 6 to 11:59 p.m. Rural workers are disproportionately more likely to arrive earlier in the morning than their urban counterparts.

Other statistics noted by the study include variations among ethnicities and rural work shifts. Saenz reports that the first shift is dominated by Latino workers and foreign-born individuals who do not speak English well, while rural African-Americans are most likely to work during the afternoon shift.

The implications of the study may have a direct effect on rural community efforts to tailor activities for lifestyles that do not operate on the traditional work schedule of urban America. “It is important that rural policy makers and community leaders work to ensure that the needs (child care, health care, participation in school activities) of such workers are met,” Saenz writes. (Read more)