Many Germans Would Like to Work Less
Many employees in Germany would like to work less, according to figures from an ifo Institute study for the Bertelsmann Stiftung. Currently, 50 percent of male employees and 41 percent of female employees work more than they would like to. Men work 41 hours a week on average and want to work 37 hours. Women work an average of 32 hours a week and would prefer 30 hours. Both groups would accept wage cuts.
However, the study also reveals that 17 percent of female employees and 9 percent of male employees would like to work more. “The question of, say, whether mothers would rather increase or reduce their working hours is strongly influenced by childcare options,” says Andreas Peichl, Director of the ifo Center for Macroeconomics and Surveys and a co-author of the study. “If they could achieve a better work-life balance, many women would like to work longer hours. This would make sense in view of the shortage of skilled workers in Germany,” Peichl adds.
Study
“Between Wish and Reality. Under- and Overemployment in the German Labor Market,” by Maximilian Blömer, Johanna Garnitz, Laura Gärtner, Andreas Peichl, and Helene Strandt. Survey data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and the Labor Market and Social Security Panel (PASS) were used.
