Secondary labor market - Definition and Overview

The secondary labor market is the labor market consisting of high-turnover, low-pay, and usually part time and/or temporary jobs. Sometimes, secondary jobs are performed by high school or college students with no need to support themselves upon wages earned (since they can live off their parents' incomes). But these jobs are mostly filled by members of ethnic minority groups, women, the disabled, older laid-off workers, and others who face discrimination in their efforts to attain jobs in the primary labor market. The majority of service sector, light manufacturing, and retail jobs are considered secondary labor. These are often called "McJobs".

In sum, secondary-labor jobs are mostly taken by lower-income working people, or the working poor. Earning wages well below subsistence level, often they must work two or three such jobs to avoid financial ruin.

A secondary-market job is distinct from a "secondary worker". The latter term refers to someone in a family (traditionally, the wife or a child) who earns a smaller income than the "bread-winner" in order to supplement the family income.