Germany Faces Debate Over High Part-Time Work Rates and Proposed Labor Reforms

Germany is confronting significant challenges linked to its high part-time employment rate, which has surpassed 40% for the first time, according to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). This trend has sparked political debates, with the CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, opposing shorter working weeks like the four-day work week and advocating for policies that promote full-time employment to sustain the nation’s prosperity. Merz and business leaders such as Rainer Dulger push for a return to a 40-hour work week, while the CDU's economic wing plans a labor law reform to eliminate the legal entitlement to part-time work.

The rise in part-time work—from 14% in 1991 to 40.1% in 2025—is especially pronounced among women, with 49% employed part-time compared to just 12% of men. Sectors like health, education, and hospitality show particularly high part-time rates, such as 43.1% among teachers, largely due to the predominance of women in these professions. The average weekly working hours in Germany have declined from 38.4 hours in 1991 to 34.3 hours now, which is below the EU average of 36.8 hours.

Economic factors including stagnant job growth and disincentives related to social benefits contribute to this dynamic. Approximately 73% of employed mothers with young children work part-time, often influenced by childcare availability. Comparatively, the OECD reports that 21% of German workers labor less than 30 hours weekly—above the 15% average among member countries but below the Netherlands, where 34% work part-time. Gender disparities in part-time employment are also evident internationally, with female part-time rates higher in countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Japan.

The CDU's proposed reforms aim to restore full-time job incentives, addressing what many see as a "part-time republic" scenario. Yet, surveys reveal that a significant portion of workers—67%—express a desire to reduce their working hours, highlighting a complex balance between economic needs and worker preferences.