More work for prosperity? Survey causes debate in Mainz!

More work for prosperity? Survey causes debate in Mainz!

The debate about working hours is becoming increasingly important in Germany. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is calling for more work to “secure prosperity” and create a turnaround in the economy. This is in the context of a current survey in Mainz, which shows that many employees would be open to increasing their weekly working hours. According to this survey by Wolfgang Brauer, many Germans could imagine working more to improve their own financial situation and stabilize the economy SWR.

A central point in the discussion about working hours is the high part-time rate in Germany. In an international comparison, the average weekly working hours for Germans is below the average in many other industrialized countries SWR. Data from the 2020 Microcensus shows that 75% of mothers were employed, but a remarkable 65.5% of these mothers worked part-time. For fathers, however, the part-time rate was only 7.1%. This raises questions about the compatibility of work and family and shows that mothers in Germany in particular are often pushed into the role of part-time workers Destatis.

Part-time work has an impact on the family structure

The high part-time rate has various effects on the family structure and the labor market. This is how sociology professor Jutta Allmendinger describes the need for fathers to work less in order to enable mothers to return to the job market more. This would not only benefit mothers, but would also be a plus for society as a whole SWR. In 2023, around 46% of employed women in Germany worked part-time, which is almost four times as high as for men, whose part-time rate is only 13% WSI.

A comparison with other EU countries shows that Germany has one of the highest part-time rates for mothers - only the Netherlands has a higher rate. In addition, the differences in part-time employment between the genders in Germany have remained significant over time. The gender gap in part-time rates increased from 28 to 33 percentage points between 1991 and 2023, highlighting the challenges faced by mothers and their integration into the labor market WSI.

Consequences of part-time work and operational challenges

Part-time work also has a negative impact on women's career prospects. Women often find it difficult to return to full-time employment after a period of part-time work. Longer part-time phases can affect women's employment and life trajectories and often lead to incomes that are unstable, which in turn has a negative impact on old-age pensions WSI.

The law on bridge part-time work, which came into force in January 2019, offers the possibility of temporarily working part-time, but many employees in companies with relatively few employees have little access to this regulation. Around 40% of employees in small companies are not entitled to bridge part-time work, which makes it more difficult to promote a work-life balance WSI.

The challenges and developments in the labor market show that it is necessary to think about working hours and working models. While the focus is on creating wealth, it is to be hoped that the compatibility of family and work is not lost sight of.