Germany: women’s full-time employment rate has dropped between 1991 and 2011

Figures published by the WSI Institute of Economic and Social Research in the Hans-Böckler Foundation show that, with increased labor market flexibility in Germany over recent years, more women now work part time.  From a long-term study of 10 category of weekly working time, ranging from “1-9 hours” to “55+,” the WSI’s researchers show that, while the number of working women has substantially increased in 20 years, the number of women working full-time (36-39 hours per week) was cut in half.  In total, 52% of active women work part-time as opposed to 20% in 2011.  (Ref.  130262)
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The long-term (1991-2011) figures on the evolution of working time for women in Germany presented by the WSI are unequivocal. Full-time jobs (36-39 hours/week) have dropped while part-time is soaring, especially ‘marginal’ part-time (up to 15 hours/week) and, to a lesser extent, ‘substantial’ part-time (15-31 hours/week) and, finally, what the researchers call ‘close-to-full-time part-time’ (32-35 hours/week). In more detail, the proportion of women working full-time went from 34.2 down to 1

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