DIW study: Germans are working more than ever before

DIW study: Germans are working more than ever before

According to a current study by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), more work was done in Germany last year than ever since reunification. Employees worked a total of around 55 billion hours, which corresponds to an increase compared to previous years. The changes in society, particularly the increased employment of women, have contributed significantly to this development.

The average weekly working time for employees in Germany is 34.7 hours, which is comparatively low compared to other European countries. Many women work part-time, although some of them would like to work more. This leads to untapped potential in the labor market. Compared to other countries such as Spain, the average working hours per week in Germany is lower.

An interesting finding from the study shows that tax exemption on overtime in France has not resulted in significant growth in overall work volume. Only highly qualified employees reported working more overtime to benefit from tax advantages.

The study also highlights the importance of a more equitable distribution of responsibilities between genders, particularly when it comes to childcare and housework. It is noted that women continue to invest more time in these areas than men. In order to meet the need for skilled workers, women's labor market potential should be better utilized and incentives should be created to extend women's working hours.

Reforms in the income tax brackets and spouse splitting could create incentives to make it worthwhile for women to work beyond the mini-job limit. The study suggests additional daycare places and parental leave regulations for fathers as possible measures to support these developments. The study is partly based on data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), a representative survey of private households in Germany.