Final answer:
Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is a unit that measures workload, with an FTE of 1.0 being a full-time worker's load. The best definition of FTE is the total paid hours reflective of a full-time employee, including benefits. In labor statistics, part-time workers, students working part-time, and working senior citizens are all considered employed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Full Time Equivalent (FTE) is best defined as a unit that indicates the workload of an employed person in a way that makes workloads comparable across various contexts. An FTE of 1.0 is equivalent to a full-time worker, while an FTE of 0.5 signals that the worker is equivalent to half of a full-time workload.
Based on the options provided, the one that best defines FTE would be option A) The number of hours paid to a full-time employee during a designated period, including payment of vacation or other benefit time. This definition captures the essence of the FTE by reflecting the total hours worked including benefits that are equivalent to what a full-time employee would receive.
Regarding labor statistics, individuals working part-time are considered employed. This includes those out of school working part-time, full-time students working part-time jobs, and senior citizens earning from work in addition to receiving social security and pensions.