Germany part-time labour volume
Germany part-time labour volume stood at 3,138.37 million hours in Q2 2026, according to Institute for Employment Research (IAB) of the Federal Employment Agency. It is one of the indicators in the IAB working time accounts table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q1 1991 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the IAB working time accounts table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour volume including side jobs | 12,899.85 | 14,138.32 | 13,914.33 | 13,984.39 | 12,927.44 | 14,123.26 | 13,997.92 | 14,073.83 | 13,090.69 | 14,074.49 | |
| Employee labour volume | 12,596.96 | 13,800.87 | 13,578.3 | 13,642.55 | 12,617.73 | 13,783.54 | 13,658.8 | 13,739.38 | 12,785.11 | 13,742.88 | |
| Part-time labour volume | 3,138.37 | 3,414.27 | 3,340.86 | 3,347.76 | 3,078.91 | 3,331.32 | 3,291.65 | 3,309.93 | 3,066.98 | 3,262.96 |
Understanding germany part-time labour volume
The collective volume of actual hours worked by employees contracted under reduced schedules in their primary jobs is tracked here. It accounts for all dependent part-time roles, including marginal part-time employment, capturing hours actually performed after adjusting for sickness, vacations, and statutory holidays. The figure includes any extra time worked beyond regular part-time agreements. It differs from full-time labour volume by focusing exclusively on non-standard working schedules, while excluding side jobs and entrepreneurial self-employment.
Regular quarterly fluctuations occur alongside school terms and public holiday schedules, introducing seasonal noise into sequential readings. Comparing matching quarters across years provides a reliable view of structural trends in part-time work, avoiding the seasonal distortions of quarter-on-quarter changes. Provisional estimates are updated in subsequent releases as complete administrative employment registers confirm finalized wage and social contribution records. Analysts evaluating this total should recognize that movements can reflect either an expanding pool of part-time employees or adjustments in the average weekly hours worked by existing part-time staff.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this aggregate include marginal part-time employment?
- Yes, marginally employed wage earners on reduced schedules are included alongside regular part-time staff.
- What causes this volume to differ from full-time labour volume?
- It reflects the distinct headcount dynamics, contracted weekly hours, and schedule adjustments specific to part-time employment contracts.
- How are overtime hours handled for part-time workers?
- Any actual hours worked beyond contractual part-time agreements are added into the aggregate volume.