Germany: Highest part-time rate in the EU – What does that mean for us?

Germany: Highest part-time rate in the EU – What does that mean for us?

Germany continues to be one of the countries with the highest part-time rate in the European Union. In 2024, around 29 percent of employed people aged 15 to 64 worked part-time. Only in the Netherlands at 43 percent and in Austria at 31 percent is the proportion even higher. In comparison, the part-time rate across the EU is only 18 percent, as Statista reports. This development raises questions about working conditions and the compatibility of work and family.

A notable fact is the gender difference in part-time employment. In Germany, 48 percent of women work part-time, while only 12 percent of men choose this form of work. Compared to other EU countries, the gender difference in the part-time rate is more striking in this country. On the one hand, this could be due to family obligations, but on the other hand it also shows that women are more likely to work in flexible working relationships.

Economic discussions and developments

In view of the current economic situation, business associations and managers are calling for a reform of working hours in order to secure prosperity in Germany. This is in connection with the Federal Government's consideration of introducing a maximum weekly working time. However, this plan faces resistance from trade unions who fear that it could be unfavorable, particularly for people with care responsibilities. Yvonne Lott, an expert on working hours, emphasizes that the high employment rate among women can be seen as a positive development and recommends promoting the compatibility of work and family through suitable working time models.

The average weekly working time of full-time employees in Germany is 40.2 hours, which is just below the EU average of 40.3 hours. In recent years, average working hours have decreased slightly in both Germany and the rest of the EU, while at the same time employment in Germany has increased. This is reflected in the fact that in 2024, 77 percent of 15 to 64 year olds in Germany were employed, well above the EU employment rate of 71 percent.

The data supporting these developments comes from Eurostat and was published on March 25, 2025. This data was accessed on June 17, 2025 and can be viewed on the [Statista] website (https://de.statista.com/statistics/data/studies/1098738/umfrage/teil-der-teilzeitbeschaeigung-in-den-eu-laendern/). They include a detailed breakdown by gender and provide valuable insights into part-time employment across EU member states.

Overall, the situation in Germany shows that despite a high part-time rate, positive trends in employment can be seen. However, the challenges posed by high part-time rates and concerns about working time regulations are issues that need to continue to be discussed in order to find the balance between economic success and social justice.