Third to last place: In Germany, people work less than in 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).

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 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 was around 1,013 hours per working-age resident. "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.

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.

Jorge Romero from Colombia originally only wanted to come to Germany for a year as an au pair. Then he liked it so much that he wanted to stay and work here. But despite the shortage of skilled workers, he had to fight his way through the bureaucracy. A happy ending was nowhere in sight for a long time.

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.

Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) told “Bild am Sonntag” : “Every additional worker and every additional working hour moves us forward.” Bas focused particularly on women: “There are women in Germany who are involuntarily trapped in the part-time job trap. They want to work more, but are unable to.” One consequence, she said, is the threat of poverty in old age. For this reason, the coalition agreement focuses on expanding childcare. And: “We will provide tax incentives for employers to encourage people to switch to full-time work.” But employers are also in demand. According to Bas, 11 percent of men work part-time, compared to 49 percent of women.

Meanwhile, on the topic of the four-day week, one expert advises looking back at the history books. "We've still internalized the work-based society," said historian Yvonne Robel in an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" (weekend). The topic isn't new, but it's socially explosive. Merz is trying to use it to gain a reputation. "In my view, he's demonstrating how we talk about work and non-work."

RND/KNA