Fewer women stay at home to care

The number of women who could not accept jobs of twelve hours or more a week, because they had to care for their families was reduced form 755 thousand in 2001 to 318 thousand in 2010.

Half a million do not want to or cannot work twelve hours a week or more

The potential labour force including all people aged between 15 and 65 was 11 million in 2010, of whom 2.8 million ((1.8 million women and 1.0 million men) could not or did not want to work in paid employment for twelve hours a week or more.

The category including all people who cannot or do not want to accept jobs for twelve or more hours a week has been reduced by nearly half a million since 2001. Women almost entirely account for the reduction. The current higher education level of women plays a part in this respect.

Persons aged between 15 and 65 who cannot or do not want to work twelve hours a week or more by gender

Women over 25 more often active on the labour market

The number of women over the age of 25 who cannot or do not want to work has dropped across all age groups save among 15 to 25-year-olds. The same pattern is noticeable among young men. This is due to the fact that young people tend to study longer prior to their entry into the labour market.

Women aged between 15 and 65 who cannot or do not want to work twelve hours a week or more by age

Education instead of family care

A decade ago, the reason most frequently mentioned by women for not accepting paid jobs for twelve hours a week or more was care for their families, whereas today it is training or study.

Women aged between 15 and 65 by reason why they cannot or do not want to work twelve hours a week or more

Maico Hoksbergen and Hendrika Lautenbach