Teilzeit und Krankenstand – Potenzial für mehr Arbeitsstunden?

Demographic change will significantly reduce the labour force potential in the coming years, whilst the average annual working hours per employee have been on a downward trend for decades. The proportion of part-time workers now stands at around 40%, and absenteeism due to illness has recently remained at a high level, at just under 15 working days per year. Against this backdrop, compensating for this through additional working hours is becoming increasingly important. Both trends – more part-time work and higher absenteeism – are sometimes interpreted as a sign of declining willingness to work. In the public debate, some conclude that the overall labour supply can be substantially expanded in the short term through more restrictive regulations or increased pressure. However, a nuanced analysis shows that additional working hours can certainly be mobilised – though less through blanket restrictions than through improved incentive structures and appropriate institutional frameworks.