Labor market: part -time rate in Germany at a record level

Never time has been working part-time in Germany as in the first quarter of 2025. The new working time calculation of the Institute for Labor Market and Vocational Research (IAB) in Nuremberg showed. The part -time rate rose by another 0.4 points to 39.8 percent in the first quarter. Compared to the previous year, the number of part -time employees rose by 190,000 to 16.75 million.

The number increased by 1.1 percent, which of the full -time employees, on the other hand, fell by 0.6 percent to 25.35 million. On average, part -time employees worked around 50 percent of the usual weekly working hours. Your 18.54 hours per week also mean a record. The full-time working time dropped to 38.14 hours.

The CEO of the Federal Employment Agency, Andrea Nahles, had recently mentioned an increase in the number of hours hour for part -time employees as a goal. This offers considerable potential in the fight against a shortage of skilled workers.

“The part-time quota is at a record level in 2025-but also the working hours of part-time employees,” said Enzo Weber, head of the IAB research area forecasts and overall economic analyzes. One reason for this development is that industries with a high part -time share, such as care or child education, have grown strongly.

“Due to the higher rate, we have lost 1,4 hours per hour per employee for over 20 years – and gained 1.4 due to the higher working hours. Overall, part -time did not reduce working hours,” explained Weber.

The work volume of employed people has increased by 0.2 percent to 15.66 billion hours. In total, they worked 36 million hours more in Germany than in the previous year’s quarter. However, the work volume decreased by 0.4 percent compared to the previous quarter. “The economic crisis is pressing the work volume: more short -time work, less full -time jobs in industry, construction and temporary work,” said Weber.

According to the IAB, the customary weekly working hours of all employees fell minimally compared to the previous year and was a total of 30.34 hours. While it decreased slightly in full -time employees with 38.14 hours for the first quarter of 2024, it rose by 0.2 hours to 18.54 hours for part -time employees. Part -time employees are increasingly working rarely in mini jobs with low working hours and so significantly promote this development.