Part-time gigs taking over 29% of Germany's workforce, placing it among the EU's top three
EU exhibits considerable part-time employment in Germany, with a rate of around 29% - High Proportion of Part-time Jobs in Germany, Ranking Among the Highest within the EU
Germany toys with one of the largest percentages of workforce engaged in part-time positions among the 15-64 age group, clocking in at an average of 21.8 hours per week. This puts Germany at a huge advantage compared to the Netherlands, which boasts a staggering 43%, while Austria isn't far behind at 31%. Across the EU, the average is drastically lower at 18%.
The part-time gig scene is particularly favored by women, with this trend holding true not just in Germany, but across the entire EU. However, the gender disparity in Germany is more profound. In contrast to 28% of women employed in part-time roles across the EU's 27 member states, 48% of German women partake in these roles, compared to 12% of men. The statistical office highlights the work-life balance as a primary reason for this preference.
As a result, the average weekly working hours for all individuals aged 15-64 in Germany in 2024 fell to 34.8 hours, significantly lower than the EU's weekly average of 37.1 hours.
Part-time work has been championed as a means to strike a balance between job and family life. In fact, 74% of women between the ages of 15 and 64 are employed in Germany, comparing favorably to the EU, where the number stands at 66%.
Yvonne Lott, an expert on working hours at the Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliches Institut (WSI) of the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, underscores the positive implications of these figures, suggesting that the government can capitalize on the trend to further promote the compatibility of family and work life.
In total, 77% of Germans aged 15 to 64 were gainfully employed last year, marking a record high that far outstrips the EU's employment rate of 71%.
However, politicians and business associations have raised concerns about the lack of productivity, with too few hours being clocked in Germany compared to international standards. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) attributes this primarily to the high part-time quota for women in Germany in its latest Germany report. Therefore, the OECD recommends improving full-day childcare availability and abolishing the spousal allowance. However, the Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, Katarina Reiche (CDU), disputes these proposals.
All in all, Germany's high part-time employment rates are rooted in structural labor market factors, social preferences, and demographic trends that also shape gender employment patterns. These elements have a significant bearing on the labor market, potential gender disparities, and individual career advancement.
Insights into Germany's Part-time Scene
- Tradition and Social Preferences: Germany has a long-standing tradition of part-time work, with an emphasis on achieving work-life balance, especially among those who require flexible hours, such as parents of children and older workers preparing for retirement.
- Demographic Challenges: On account of an aging population and rising retirements, Germany faces a severe labor shortage. With 20 million workers expected to retire in the next decade and only 12.5 million entering the workforce, older workers tend to work fewer hours, which contributes to the prevalence of part-time roles.
- Cultural and Policy Influences on Gendered Labor Participation: Part-time work is particularly common among women in Germany, who often shoulder caregiving and family responsibilities. This reflects a gendered division of labor that places women at a disadvantage in terms of career progression and income equality.
Germany, while known for its high part-time employment rates, maintains relatively robust female employment participation compared to countries with lower part-time rates. These figures point to the positive aspects of part-time employment, bolstering employment stability while still supporting a manageable work-life balance. However, the impact on gender equality, career progression, and income inequality remains an area of concern.
- The high prevalence of vocational training in Germany, coupled with the widespread part-time employment, offers a unique opportunity for community programs that provide vocational training for women, helping them balance their work lives and support their families.
- With the government aiming to foster compatibility between family and work life, there lies a potential for partnership with the financial sector to invest in initiatives that promote business ventures centered around lifestyle choices for individuals pursuing part-time work or vocational training, thereby empowering them to make a living while maintaining a fulfilling work-life balance.
