POSITION PAPER

July 2010
How good is part-time work?

Who works part-time in

OECD countries? 

How good are part-time
jobs for workers? 

How useful are part-time 

jobs for societies?

What can governments

do to make the most of 
part-time work?

Further information

Related reading


Who works part-time in

OECD countries?

© OECD 2010
The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein do not necessarily reflect the official views of the OECD member countries.
© OECD 2010
workers?
How good are
part-time jobs for
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40

Netherlands
POSITION PAPER

Switzerland
Australia
United Kingdom
% of total employment

New Zealand
Germany
Ireland
Norway
Japan
Canada
Belgium
Austria
Denmark
Italy
Voluntary part-time

Iceland
Mexico
Sweden
Luxembourg
France
United States
Finland
Involuntary part-time

Spain
Portugal
Korea
Poland
Chile
Turkey
Total part-time

Greece
Czech Republic
Hungary
Slovak Republic

2
 POSITION PAPER

Women Men
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25

© OECD 2010 3
 POSITION PAPER

How useful are

part-time jobs for
societies?

© OECD 2010 4
 POSITION PAPER

Part-time employment
Full-time employment
% of working-age % of women
population Total employment rate aged 25-54
80 80
Total working-age populationa Women aged 25-54b
75 75
70 70
65 65
60 60
55 55
50 50
45 45
40 40
35 35
30 30
Countries Countries Countries Countries Countries Countries
with low with medium with high with low with medium with high
PT share PT share PT share PT share PT share PT share

© OECD 2010 5
 POSITION PAPER

What can governments

do to make the most of
part-time work?

© OECD 2010 6
 POSITION PAPER

Further information

Related reading

© OECD 2010 7