In Germany more and more work is being done: in 2023 people in the country worked a total of about 55 billion hours. At the same time, average weekly working hours are falling. What is this due to?
People in Germany are working more than ever. This is clear from a study by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), cited by German public broadcaster ARD. In 2023, employees worked a total of about 55 billion hours. This is the highest number since Unification. In 1991, 52 billion hours were produced, and at the lowest point in 2005 - only 47 billion hours. At the same time, however, the average weekly working hours of employees are continuously decreasing. The analysis is based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and nationwide statistics.
How did it get here?
"The total amount of work has increased mainly due to the fact that more women are working," says study author Mathis Beckmanshagen. "Almost half of women in Germany, however, work part-time, although some would like to work more." Therefore, their potential remains partially untapped. The high proportion of women working part-time results in a relatively low average working time of 34.7 hours per week.
According to the data, between 1991 and 2022, the share of women in the labor market increased by 16 points to 73%. However, women still spend significantly more time on childcare and housework than men.
In the workplace, women are busy on average for about 33 hours a week, while men - 40 hours. According to DIW, men's average weekly working hours have decreased slightly since 2011, but at the same time they are not devoting much more time to children and home. If the current trend continues, according to the researchers, it will be decades before men and women begin to devote equal time to housework, especially childcare.
Tax reform to make women work more?
The report also found that many part-time workers are likely not increasing their hours because of the tax system. For example, the so-called Minijob, that is a mini-job position whose pay is tax-free is currently capped at €538 per month. "In order to meet the demand for skilled workers, the potential of women in the labor market must be better used and false incentives removed," said study author Annika Sperling. According to her, tax rate reforms could help women increase their working hours above the limit for the so-called. Minijob. However, this also requires a fairer distribution of childcare and household tasks. Politicians could support this development with additional kindergarten places and parental leave measures for fathers.