Part-Time Work in Europe: A Female-Dominated Balance of Flexibility and Precarity

According to the IX Report on Liberal Professions by Confprofessioni, presented in Rome on 12 November, part-time work is gaining prominence across Europe. However, its dynamics vary significantly between countries. While often associated with flexibility, part-time work depends heavily on the labour market characteristics and economic policies of each nation. In certain nations, particularly those in Northern Europe, it is seen as a means of balancing professional and private life, whereas in others, such as Southern Europe, it is more frequently linked to underemployment and precarious job conditions.

Eurostat 2023 data, analysed by Confprofessioni researchers, reveals notable differences between men and women in part-time work. On average, 9.6% of men in Europe are engaged in part-time employment, but this figure rises significantly for women, with 29.3% working part-time. This nearly 20-point gap underscores how part-time work predominantly involves women. However, data varies significantly between countries. For example, in Bulgaria, only 1.6% of men work part-time, compared with 25.7% in the Netherlands. For women, the disparity is even starker, ranging from 1.9% in Bulgaria to 64.1% in the Netherlands.

In countries such as Germany and Austria, approximately half of employed women work part-time, while the proportion for men is significantly lower, at around 13%. By comparison, in Italy, the percentage of women working part-time is 31.5%, a figure close to the European average. However, Italy presents a worrying trend: a significant proportion of those working part-time do so out of necessity rather than choice. Indeed, 69.3% of men and 50.2% of women in part-time employment in Italy would prefer a full-time position, indicating a significant issue of underemployment.

In other countries, such as Germany or the Netherlands, the rates of involuntary part-time employment are very low, ranging from 3% to 9% for men and 2% to 6% for women. This reflects a markedly different situation, where part-time work is seen as an opportunity to balance work, education, and personal life, rather than as a condition imposed by the labour market.

The disparity in how part-time work is experienced across Europe is largely influenced by the economic model and labour market conditions in each country. In countries like Germany, part-time work is an accepted and voluntarily chosen model. However, in Southern European countries such as Italy, Spain, and Greece, it is more often a forced condition. This is the result of the economy's shift towards the service sector, which has led to the proliferation of part-time contracts, particularly in low-skilled sectors such as tourism, cleaning, and manual work. In these contexts, part-time work is less a flexible choice and more often a constraint, driven by a lack of better or more remunerative opportunities.

In summary, while part-time work can be a valuable resource in certain countries to foster labour market participation and balance between private and professional life, in other contexts, particularly in Southern Europe, part-time employment is more commonly associated with inequalities and economic challenges. This underscores how the implications and impacts of part-time work differ markedly depending on national policies and economic structures.

To explore these findings further, consult the full IX Report on Liberal Professions 2024, available at the following link.