Women and part-time work
Published: 7 March 2010
In collaboration with the Working Life Research Centre (Forschungs- und Beratungsstelle Arbeitswelt, FORBA [1]), the scientific institute L&R Social Research [2] conducted a survey on part-time employment of women on behalf of the Department of Women’s Affairs of the Austrian Federal Chancellery (Bundeskanzleramt [3]). Among others, the study analyses and elaborates data from the Labour Force Survey 2007 and the Structure of Earnings Survey 2006, both conducted by Statistics Austria (Statistik Austria [4]).[1] http://www.forba.at/[2] http://www.lrsocialresearch.at/[3] http://www.bka.gv.at/site/3327/Default.aspx[4] http://www.statistik.at/
An analysis of secondary data on part-time work and women shows that part-time employment is responsible for the increase of female employment in Austria. Women working part time often have a low level of education, which is also reflected in their occupational status. Childcare and caring for elderly people is the main reason for women taking on a part-time job. Concerning income, female part-timers not only earn less an hour than women working full time, but they also earn less than men.
In collaboration with the Working Life Research Centre (Forschungs- und Beratungsstelle Arbeitswelt, FORBA), the scientific institute L&R Social Research conducted a survey on part-time employment of women on behalf of the Department of Women’s Affairs of the Austrian Federal Chancellery (Bundeskanzleramt). Among others, the study analyses and elaborates data from the Labour Force Survey 2007 and the Structure of Earnings Survey 2006, both conducted by Statistics Austria (Statistik Austria).
Rise in female employment due to part-time work
The increase in female employment in Austria over the past two decades can to a large extent be attributed to the increase in female part-time work. Between 1995 and 2007, the number of women working full time decreased by 53,000 persons while the number of women working part time almost doubled, from 367,000 to 669,000 persons. Thus, the rate of female part-time work increased from 27.2% in 1995 to 41.9% in 2007. Therefore, women’s part-time employment is of great significance in Austria.
Rate of part-time employment of women
Accordingly, close to 700,000 women are working part time. However, it is important to consider what types of women comprise this group of female part-time workers. The rate of female part-time employment is highest for women who either completed an apprenticeship (46.1%) or a technical school education (43.5%), and is only marginally lower (about 41%) for women who completed the nine years of compulsory schooling or a higher school education (Table 1). The rate of part-time work is lowest among women with a college or university degree (32.9%).
| Educational level | Employment level |
|---|---|
| Compulsory school attendance | 41.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 46.1 |
| Technical school | 43.5 |
| Higher school | 41.3 |
| College, university | 32.9 |
Source: Bergmann et al, 2009
This distribution is also reflected in women’s occupational status. The rate of female part-time work is higher among blue-collar workers (46.2%) than among white-collar workers (43.2%) and only amounts to 27.6% for civil servants. Additionally, women performing unskilled and semi-skilled labour tend to work part time more often than more highly skilled women.
There are also differences in the employment rates of part-time workers when it comes to age (Table 2). The proportion of women working part time is highest among those who are between 30 and 44 years of age (45.9% to 53.6%) – an age when childcare is most relevant – and also among older people aged 60–64 years (70.3%).
| Age group | Women working part time |
|---|---|
| 15–19 years | 16.6 |
| 20–24 years | 28.3 |
| 25–29 years | 29.9 |
| 30–34 years | 45.9 |
| 35–39 years | 53.6 |
| 40–45 years | 48.7 |
| 46–49 years | 44.2 |
| 50–54 years | 40.6 |
| 55–59 years | 46.7 |
| 60–64 years | 70.3 |
Source: Bergmann et al, 2009
The importance of childcare as one of the main reasons for women working part time is also highlighted by data showing women’s motives for taking up part-time work. The part-time employment of women who cite childcare and/or elderly care as their motive for working part-time hours amounts to 39.2%. Thus, women tend to use part-time work as a strategy to reconcile family life and work. Other personal or family motives resulting in part-time work account of 16.5% of the part-time work rate of women. Family issues thus seem to play a key role in women working part time. Interestingly, the second most important reason for women choosing part-time employment seems to be their desire not to work full time – women in this position make up 19.6% of those working part time.
Income of part-time workers
Concerning income, the survey revealed that part-time workers do not only earn less than full-timer workers due to the reduced number of weekly working hours but also earn less on the basis of their gross hourly wage. For instance, women who work part time earn €9.11 an hour, while those working full time are paid €10.36 (Figure 3). Full-time employed women thus earn 14% more than women working part time.
| Women | Men | Total | Gender pay gap | |
| Part-time hours | €9.11 | €9.89 | €9.24 | 8.5% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time hours | €10.36 | €12.74 | €12.12 | 23% |
| Pay gap between full-time and part-time workers | 14% | 29% | 31% |
Source: Bergmann et al, 2009
The gender pay gap is derived from a comparison of female and male gross hourly wages. Female part-timers earn 8.5% less (€9.11) than men working part time (€9.89). Although this gender pay gap is lower than the income gap of female and male full-timers, which amounts to 23%, men earn more than women no matter if they work part-time or full-time hours.
Interestingly, the pay gap between men who work full time and those who work part time is twice as high at 29% as that of women (14%). Accordingly, the decision of men to work part time also has some effects on their income even though they still earn more than their female counterparts who work part time.
References
Bergmann, N., Papouschek, U. and Sorger, C. Qualität von Teilzeitbeschäftigung und Verbesserung der Position der Frauen am Arbeitsmarkt – Analyse und Umsetzungsbeispiele [Quality of part-time employment and the improvement of the position of women in the labour market – analysis and examples of implementation], Vienna, Austrian Federal Chancellery, 2009.
Marion Vogt, Working Life Research Centre (Forschungs- und Beratungsstelle Arbeitswelt, FORBA)
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2010), Women and part-time work, article.
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