Part-time in focus: 29% of Germans work less – what now?

Part-time in focus: 29% of Germans work less – what now?

In Germany, the world of work is characterized by a special trend: part-time work. This is particularly noticeable among those aged between 15 and 64, where 29% of employees already work part-time. Only in the Netherlands (43%) and Austria (31%) is the part-time rate higher daily news reported. In contrast, the EU average is just 18%.

The average weekly working time of full-time employees in Germany is 40.2 hours, while the average in the EU is 40.3 hours. Overall, all employed people in Germany work an average of 34.8 hours per week, compared to 37.1 hours in the EU.

A look at part-time employment

Women in particular take advantage of the advantages of part-time work: 48% of employed women in Germany work part-time, while the figure for men is only 12%. This trend was already apparent in 2018, when 47.9% of women and 11.2% of men worked part-time. Part-time work is particularly common in the service sector, whereas it is rare in the manufacturing sector. Loud bpb The proportion of part-time employees in total employment rose to 27.2% in 2019.

The development of part-time work brings with it both advantages and challenges. Many companies value the flexibility that part-time workers offer. This enables employees to better balance professional and private requirements. “Mothers particularly benefit from this flexibility,” says the Hans Böckler Foundation. However, it also calls for a greater balance between work and family and warns of possible disadvantages such as lower earnings or limited opportunities for advancement.

Procedures and regulations

The regulations on part-time work are set out in the Part-Time and Fixed-Term Employment Act (TzBfG). This law guarantees a right to a reduction in working hours in companies with at least 15 employees. In addition, in many cases employers and employees enter into a joint agreement to clarify any representation obligations. An employee is not obliged to stand in for an upcoming job-sharing colleague if this means an extension of working hours, unless an express agreement is made, as shown on bmas.de is to be read.

The challenges of part-time work lie primarily in the danger of the “part-time trap”, where employees remain on the margins of the labor market. Women who work part-time for family reasons often have a higher level of education than men in comparable positions, but are at greater risk of ending up in financial insecurity.

The discussion about extending working hours becomes louder in times of economic uncertainty. The federal government is planning to introduce a maximum weekly working time, which has raised concerns among unions as it could potentially increase the maximum daily working time. Yvonne Lott from the Hans Böckler Foundation urges caution here, especially for employees with care obligations. A balanced level of flexibility and security at work is of utmost importance here.

In summary, it can be said that part-time work is particularly popular in Germany. However, it remains to be seen how changes in the law and economic conditions will affect this development.