More Dutch workers choosing part-time hours amid labor shortages

More and more Dutch workers are choosing part-time jobs of 28 to 35 hours per week. In the third quarter, almost 1.9 million people were employed in such roles, up from just over 1.6 million a year earlier, Statistics Netherlands reports. The statistics agency adds that the trend is particularly common among people with children, who often reduce their working hours. Nearly 5.1 million people were employed full-time in the latest period, down 24,000 compared with a year earlier.

In the past quarter, 81 percent of men aged 25 to 65 worked full-time, while 13 percent had part-time jobs of 28 to 35 hours per week, with the biggest growth seen in the 35 to 55 age group, according to Statistics Netherlands. For women, 35 percent worked full-time, and 29 percent were employed in similar part-time roles.

People with a partner and children are more likely to work slightly less than full-time than those with a partner but no children. Among women in this group, 31 percent hold part-time jobs of 28 to 35 hours per week, compared with 26 percent of women without children.

For men, 13 percent of those with children work at least 28 hours per week in similar roles, slightly higher than the 12 percent among men in childless couples.

Economists, including experts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), argue that people should be encouraged to work more hours to help tackle labor shortages. The IMF noted that women, in particular, could increase their working hours. Measures such as making childcare more accessible could help support this.

Amid the current labor shortage, many employers are offering part-time positions as a way to attract workers. Higher wages have also made part-time work a more appealing option.