The Dutch labour market is characterized by a high share of part-time employment. More than half of the Dutch working population works less than 35 hours a week. Part-time employment is especially prevalent among women. At the same time, several labour market sectors, such as education, health care and childcare, are facing structural staffing shortages. Lack of personnel puts pressure on the availability of (public) services. For instance, it results in waiting lists at hospitals or day-care centers or in shorter school weeks. A potential solution for these labour market shortages lies in increasing the labour market participation of part-timers. It is therefore relevant to increase our scientific understanding of part-time employment and the decision making processes that determine how much time people spend on paid work. Many studies have linked part-time work to the care of young children and gendered patterns of labor at home, but national statistics show that young women without children, more often than young men, start their careers in part-time employment. Which factors play a role in the extent of younger women’s labour market participation? And how do these compare to younger men? These are the types of questions that are addressed in this research project. Increased insights on part-time employment could help identify which groups of workers would be willing to increase their working hours (untapped potential) and how they could be facilitated to do so.
Alongside Utrecht University (UU), Radboud University and ODISSEI, NIDI is a scientific partner in the ‘Meer Uren Werkt!’ project which is funded by the ‘Nationaal Groeifonds’ and led by the UU and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. Drawing upon the input of various societal stakeholders this project will implement and test interventions aimed at eliminating (implicit) hurdles for part-time workers in increasing their working hours. An example of such a hurdle is misconceptions about the consequences of extended working hours for tax payments and entitlement to social benefits. Increasing part-timers’ insight into their own financial situation if their working hours were to change, could potentially tackle this hurdle and motivate a change in behaviour. Within the larger project, NIDI researchers are involved in the evaluation of interventions aimed at increasing part-timers’ financial literacy.
