Teilzeitbeschäftigung: Ausmaß und Bestimmungsgründe der Erwerbsübergänge von Frauen (Part-time employment : prevalence and determinants of employment transitions among women)

"The labour market in Germany is predominated by the full-time standard employment relationship. Nevertheless, since the reunification at the latest we observe a continuous increase in part-time employment. On the basis of the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) from 1991 to 2006, we investigate how many women and men do work part-time, how participation in part-time employment varies by age groups and - estimating logistic regression models - which factors facilitate the transition to work either part-time or full-time amongst women. The proportion of part-timers also increased amongst male employees - almost one in ten male employees is a part-timer and just under half of female employees work part-time - however, women are predominant amongst part-timers: four in five part-timers are female. Above-average shares of part-time employment show amongst women aged 36 and elder. Furthermore, elderly employees as well as labour market entrants have experienced a significant increase in the prevalence of part-time employment. For women, both motherhood and marriage increase the likelihood to work part-time. However, women from East Germany are less likely to work part-time than are those from West Germany, and that is also the case when they have children. In addition, part-time employment permits transitions into full-time positions more often amongst employees from East Germany. Apparently, part-time employment helps to combine family and working life continuously, but this arrangement is more frequently chosen by mothers in West Germany." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))