Study: Germans work little compared to other countries

In the debate about work in Germany, new data shows that, by international comparison, people in Germany work fewer hours than employees in most other economic nations. According to this data, Germany worked around 1,036 hours per working-age resident (15-64 years) in 2023, as "Bild am Sonntag" reports, citing a calculation by the German Economic Institute (IW).

New Zealand leads in working hours

Among OECD countries, only France (around 1,027 hours) and Belgium (1,021) worked fewer hours. The highest number of hours worked per working-age inhabitant was in New Zealand (around 1,402 hours worked per working-age inhabitant), followed by the Czech Republic (1,326) and Israel (1,312).

However, Germans worked more in 2023 than they did ten years ago: In 2013, the number per working-age resident was around 1,013. "Compared to the 1970s, we work less, but since reunification, we've tended to work a bit more," study author Holger Schäfer told the newspaper. He added that the country's labor force potential is being underutilized.

We experience the shortage every day, complains the IW boss

IW President Michael Hüther said: "We are all already experiencing the shortage of skilled workers on a daily basis: Restaurants are closed more often than before, nursing staff are overworked because they have too few colleagues. The situation is similar in daycare centers and small craft businesses." By the end of the decade, around 4.2 billion working hours were missing.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) recently initiated a debate about working hours. He called on people to make a "tremendous effort" and work more. Controversial demands from the business community to abolish a public holiday are also part of the overall debate.

Labour Minister Bas wants to get women out of the part-time trap

Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) told "Bild am Sonntag": "Every additional worker and every additional hour of work moves us forward." Bas focused primarily on women: "There are women in Germany who are involuntarily trapped in the part-time work trap . They want to work more, but can't."

One consequence is the threat of poverty in old age. Therefore, the coalition agreement focuses on expanding childcare. And: "We will provide tax incentives for employers to promote the transition to full-time employment." Employers are also in demand. According to Bas, 11 percent of men work part-time, compared to 49 percent of women.

haz/pgr (kna, afp)