Germany low-paid part-time workers
Germany low-paid part-time workers stood at 4,121,366 Number in 2025, according to Deutsche Bundesbank. It is one of the indicators in the Labour market (annual) table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2001 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market (annual) table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons according to ESA 2010, Domestic concept, Absolute value | 45,878 | 45,960 | 45,909 | 45,622 | 45,041 | 44,965 | 45,291 | 44,878 | 44,290 | 43,686 | |
| Persons working exclusively in low-paid part-time jobs, Total, Absolute value | 4,121,366 | 4,180,239 | 4,197,977 | 4,124,569 | 4,100,721 | 4,289,708 | 4,578,952 | 4,671,481 | 4,740,495 | 4,803,861 | |
| Employees subject to social security contributions, Total, Absolute value | 34,962,851 | 34,934,486 | 34,790,058 | 34,507,359 | 33,897,417 | 33,579,123 | 33,518,289 | 32,964,195 | 32,234,350 | 31,508,445 |
Understanding germany low-paid part-time workers
Individuals holding minor employment as their sole occupation, where earnings remain below a strict statutory threshold, define this absolute value. These "mini-jobs" are exempt from standard employee social security contributions, separating them entirely from the regular employee metrics found elsewhere in the dataset. By stipulating that the person works exclusively in such an arrangement, the aggregate filters out regular full-time workers who hold a secondary low-paid gig on the side, focusing purely on those relying solely on marginal employment.
Annual figures provide a stable look at marginal employment by neutralizing the heavy seasonal reliance on minor jobs in sectors like hospitality and agriculture. The series is heavily vulnerable to legislative breaks; whenever lawmakers raise the maximum earning limit for low-paid jobs, a sudden cohort of part-time roles instantly shifts into this category without any underlying change in actual hours worked. Revisions are standard as tax and insurance bodies reconcile end-of-year filings. Comparing year-on-year trends requires careful cross-referencing with minimum wage legislation, as an increased minimum wage can mechanically push workers over the earnings threshold.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this count someone with a full-time job who also works a weekend retail shift?
- No, the series exclusively counts individuals whose only form of employment is a low-paid part-time arrangement.
- Are these workers paying full statutory social insurance?
- These specific roles fall below the mandatory contribution threshold, exempting the workers from standard employee deductions.
- How do changes to the minimum wage affect this series?
- An increased minimum wage can mechanically push earnings above the statutory limit, causing workers to drop out of this category.