The director of the Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Bernd Fitzenberger, rebuts Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s claim that Germans work very few hours. “The blanket analysis is incorrect” Fitzenberger told “Handelsblatt” (Wednesday edition). “More people in Germany are working than ever-both absolutely and as a share of the working‑age population. The total number of hours worked is at a record level”.
He added that to sustain employment and prosperity, Germany needs immigration (or less emigration), higher participation among older workers, and increased hours for women.
Fitzenberger also cautioned against eliminating part‑time rights, arguing that research does not show this would automatically increase total work time and could even have the opposite effect. He cited France’s 2014 24‑hour minimum‑week legislation, which led to fewer women in the workforce.
Regarding the four‑day week, the IAB chief dismisses blanket criticism. “For young parents, a ‘full‑time‑equivalent part‑time’ arrangement can work well. If both parents, for example, work 25 to 30 hours over four days and childcare fits, they stay integrated in the labour market” he said. “In the long run, this is often more productive than the traditional one‑full‑time‑earner model”.
