More older people active in short-hour jobs

The number of people aged 50 and older working in short-hour jobs has increased over the last decade, mainly as a result of the population ageing process. The majority of them are women. The share of self-employed is relatively substantial.

Nearly 200 thousand older people active in short-hour jobs

The number of 50-overs working in short-hour jobs increased by 60 thousand to nearly 195 thousand over period 1996–2006. The increase is largely the result of the ageing process in the population. The number of older people in the population increased from 4.3 to 5.3 million in the same period. Proportionally, the number of over-50s in short-hour jobs grew from 3 to 3.6 percent.

Labour position of persons aged 50 and older

Many women working short hours

Most older people holding short-hour jobs are women, many of whom are in the age category under 65. They are often employed in the cleaning services sector or as home help. In the age category over 65, on the other hand, more men were working short hours.

Persons aged between 50 and 75 active in short-hour jobs, 2006

Many self-employed

Many older people active in short-hour jobs are self-employed. In the 50 to 64 age bracket, one quarter of people working short hours were self-employed. Among over-65s, more than half were self-employed. It mainly concerns freelancers and self-employed like advisors, teachers or doctors and people in creative disciplines, such as architects, authors or artists.

Employment over-50s in small jobs, 2006

Saskia te Riele and Clemens Siermann