Part-Time Jobs on the Rise: Germany Sets New Record at 39.8%! 👋
Germany sees record-breaking part-time job growth
So, here's some tea about Germany's job market – it's looking a bit different these days! According to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), part-time work has been on the rise, reaching a staggering 39.8% in the first quarter of 2025. That's right, nearly two out of five employees are working part-time! 💼🎉
You might wonder, what does that mean for people on the ground? Well, it means that about 16.75 million folks are rocking those partial schedules, representing an increase of 190,000 from last year. On the flip side, the number of full-time employees has dropped by around 160,000 to around 25 million.
But wait, there's more! Not only has the part-time rate risen, but part-time workers are actually putting in more hours. On average, they're clocking around 18.5 hours per week. Furthermore, fewer part-time workers are holding down classic mini-jobs with low hours.
"No sagging working hours with part-time work!" explained Enzo Weber from the IAB. He points out that, over the past 20 years, the total working hours have increased – by an average of 1.4 hours per employee per week – due to both the higher rate and longer working hours. In 2025, it even led to a tiny 0.2% increase in total working volume, clocking in at 15.66 billion hours compared to the previous year.
Now, you might be wondering, what's causing all this part-time madness? Well, it could be due to labor market resilience, economic policies, labor shortages, or seasonal fluctuations. For more juicy details, keep your eyes peeled for further reports on the labor market! 🔎📈
References
[1] ntv.de[2] Legislative Research Service (2024). Germany's 2024 Labor Market outlook. Berlin: German Bundestag.[3] Statista (2025). Monthly employment in Germany [Data set]. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1080650/monthly-employment-germany-seasonal-adjustment/[4] Ifo Institute (2025). German business climate index. Retrieved from https://www.ifo.de/en/iefix/?c=13&var_name=0[5] European Central Bank (2025). Economic Bulletin, Issue 3, p. 33. Frankfurt am Main: European Central Bank.
- In light of the increasing trend of part-time jobs in Germany, a review of the community policy might be necessary to ensure support for those seeking vocational training while working part-time.
- Considering the growth of part-time employment and the subsequent increase in total working hours, businesses may need to consider finance strategies that cater to this changing workforce, such as offering flexible payment options or providing vocational training to boost employee skills and productivity.
