German Workforce Shrinks as Part-Time Employees Log More Hours

(MENAFN) Germany experienced a decline in overall employment during the first quarter of 2026, but an increase in working hours among part-time employees helped keep the total volume of labor largely unchanged, according to a recent report.

The findings point to a changing labor market, where reductions in full-time positions have been partially balanced by greater participation and longer working hours among part-time workers.

According to the report, the number of people employed across the country fell by 160,000 compared with the same period a year earlier, bringing total employment to 45.64 million individuals.

Despite the drop in workforce numbers, the average amount of work performed increased slightly. Average working hours per person rose by 0.3%, reaching 344.2 hours during the quarter. As a result, the overall labor volume remained close to 15.7 billion hours, showing only a marginal decrease.

The report also highlighted continued growth in part-time employment. The share of workers employed on a part-time basis climbed by 0.4 percentage points year-on-year to 40.1%. This represents the first time that part-time employment has exceeded the 40% mark during a first quarter.

Working hours among full-time employees remained broadly stable, averaging 38.15 hours per week. In contrast, part-time workers increased their weekly schedules by 0.3 hours, reaching an average of 18.88 hours per week.

Another factor supporting overall labor activity was a reduction in sickness-related absences. The report noted that the rate of missed work due to illness declined from 6.5% in the previous year to 6.1% during the first quarter of 2026, helping to sustain workforce participation despite the fall in total employment.

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