almost half of part-time employees deliberately forego a full-time position

Press release

Decision for Part-time driven by wish more leisure time: almost half of part-time employees deliberately forego a full-time position
 

• The desire for more time for oneself and relatives is the main reason for part-time work
• Lack of childcare options keeps one in four women in part-time work — for men it is less than one in ten
• Economic potential of up to 23 billion euros is lost every year due to childcare problems
   

DUESSELDORF, December 5, 2024 — Most people consciously decide to work part-time because they want to have more time for themselves and their environment (46%). The desire for more free time thus leads to the ranking of reasons for part-time employment. This is the result of a Stepstone study of 5,800 employees, 700 of whom work part-time. At the same time, one in five part-time employees say that a full-time job is not possible due to a lack of childcare options or family members in need of care. In addition, 17 percent say that a full-time job is out of the question for them for health reasons. 
 

“The growing labor shortage is becoming a real challenge for the economy. It is better for people to work part-time than to drop out of the workforce altogether - for example due to childcare or caring responsibilities. However, it is also clear that from an economic perspective, every employee and every single working hour needs to be put to the best possible use - ideally full-time,” says The Stepstone Group labor market expert Dr Tobias Zimmermann. “It is crucial that people find the right job and employer for them. This is the only way we can become more productive and secure Germany's prosperity in the long term.”
 

Full-time or part-time job — still a question of gender

There are gender-specific differences in the rationales for working part-time. Almost one in four women (24%) say that there is a lack of care options for relatives in order to work full-time. In contrast, less than one in ten men (9 percent) say the same. At the same time, men are far more likely than women to believe that they do not have the opportunity to work part-time: Either because the job does not allow it (25 percent vs. 14 percent) or management tasks are linked to a full-time position (28 percent vs. 17 percent). The part-time rate for women is currently at a record level*.
 

“Mothers still bear the majority of the responsibility for care work. Many of them do not return to a full-time position after parental leave and are less likely to take on management tasks than their male colleagues — with dire consequences for their future careers,” says Zimmermann. “Companies benefit massively if they design workplaces that meet the individual needs of employees depending on their stage of life. This includes giving more support to women who want to work more and in positions of responsibility. At the same time, it is a task for society to create a framework for better care options to keep as many people as possible in the labor market.” 
 

Productivity boost through better childcare

A Stepstone calculation from spring 2024 shows that a better childcare situation would have a direct positive economic impact. If parents are unable to work full-time or close to full-time even though they would like to (e.g., due to a lack of childcare or other framework conditions), an economic potential of up to 23 billion euros per year remains untapped in the overall economy. Women alone account for 80 percent of this — to a value of 18 billion euros. “This also means that we have additional economic potential in the tens of billions on the labor market. If we manage to activate this, it will be great news,” says Zimmermann.

 * https://iab.de/presseinfo/teilzeitbeschaftigung-liegt-auf-rekordniveau/

About the study

The “Hiring Trends Index” study series is a quarterly survey published by The Stepstone Group. Between September 16 and 30, 2024, 5,800 German employees, 700 of them part-time, and 600 recruiters were surveyed online. Among other things, the current survey examined employees' willingness to look for a new job, which factors are decisive, the situation at their own workplace and reasons for their chosen working time model. The results are representative of the German working population in terms of age, gender, and education.

About the calculation

The additional economic potential for Germany was determined in an exemplary calculation. It was assumed that all parents could work part-time with children under the age of 10, full-time (35-40 hours) or in positions close to full-time (30-35 hours). The calculation is based on the current number of mothers and fathers working part-time in Germany (Federal Statistical Office 2023) and the assumption that the majority would like to work full-time or close to full-time if framework conditions such as childcare were secured (source: Working Parents & Beyond study, number of participants: 12,000 people, including 2,000 with children under 10, survey period: October 2023). Specifically, 15% of mothers would like to work full-time, while 51% would like to work close to full-time. The picture is reversed for fathers: 48% prefer to work full-time and 23% would like to work full-time.

Disclaimer: Gross domestic product (GDP) and median income were used as indicators to assess economic potential. GDP measures the overall performance of the economy, while median income is an important indicator of average income. By analyzing these two data, a more comprehensive understanding of a country's economic potential can be gained. This is an exemplary and highly simplified calculation: numerous factors influence a country's value added.

About The Stepstone Group 
The Stepstone Group is a leading global digital recruitment platform that connects companies with the right talent and helps people find the right job. AI-driven job marketplaces and programmatic-powered marketing solutions connect more than 130 million job applications with around 140,000 employers every year. In 2023, The Stepstone Group generated revenue of around €1 billion. The Stepstone Group operates in more than 30 countries - including Stepstone in Germany, Appcast in the USA, and Totaljobs in the UK. The company is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany and employs more than 3,500 people worldwide. For more information: www.thestepstonegroup.com/en/

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