Skip to content
All about education & self-development.

Germany sets a new record with soaring part-time teaching rates

Teacher part-time rates in Germany's general education schools hit a record high during the 2023/2024 academic year, with 43.1% of teachers working on a part-time basis.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
Rates for part-time teaching positions in Germany climb to new peak levels
Rates for part-time teaching positions in Germany climb to new peak levels

Germany sets a new record with soaring part-time teaching rates

News Article: Age and Gender Dynamics Shaping Germany's Teaching Profession

A new analysis of the teaching workforce in Germany reveals significant trends in age distribution and gender representation.

Age Demographics

The study found that more than one-third (35.7%) of teaching staff were over the age of 50, with an additional 10.3% being 60 years and older. The lowest proportion of teachers 50 years and older was in the Saarland (28.4%), while Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt had the highest, with 50.0% and 54.0% respectively. Bremen had a slightly higher proportion compared to the Saarland, with 30.1%.

Regional Differences in Part-time Work

Large regional differences exist in the proportion of part-time workers among teaching staff. Hamburg, Bremen, and Baden-Württemberg had the highest percentage (55.0%, 52.2%, and 50.1% respectively). In contrast, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt had the lowest percentage (23.0% and 23.1% respectively).

Gender Distribution

Women constitute a significant majority of the teaching staff at general schools, accounting for 73.1% in the 2023/2024 school year. Teachers under 35 years old made up only over one in five (20.8%) of the teaching staff.

Part-time Work and Gender

In the same school year, 50.7% of female teachers worked part-time, compared to 22.6% of male teachers. The part-time quota for teaching staff at general schools in Germany reached a record high of 43.1% in the 2023/2024 school year. This is relatively high compared to other dependent employees (30.9% in 2023).

Factors Influencing Part-time Work

While specific data on part-time quotas for female teachers in Germany during the 2023/2024 school year is not available, several factors can contribute to the higher part-time work among women in the teaching profession. These factors include women's preference for part-time work for better work-life balance, societal expectations and gender roles, and the availability of paid leave and family support policies.

Women are more likely to work in education, particularly in roles that may allow for part-time arrangements. In many occupations, women are more likely to choose part-time options, especially when managing family responsibilities. In Germany, flexible work arrangements are valued, and part-time work is common across various sectors, making it particularly appealing to women who balance work and family life.

Societal expectations and gender roles might also influence women's career choices, potentially leading them to opt for part-time roles more frequently than men. The availability of paid leave and family support policies can also affect women's decisions regarding part-time work. While Germany offers better parental leave policies compared to some other countries, women might still find part-time work more appealing for caregiving responsibilities.

This analysis provides a snapshot of the current state of the teaching workforce in Germany, highlighting significant trends in age distribution and gender representation. However, further research is needed to fully understand the factors influencing part-time work among female teachers and to provide a definitive answer on the part-time quota for female teachers in Germany.

Sources:

  1. European Commission. (2021). Women in the labour market. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/women-labour-market_en
  2. OECD. (2021). Gender, Education and Labour Market Outcomes. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/education/school/gender-equality-in-education-and-the-labour-market.htm
  3. Statista. (2023). Percentage of teachers aged 50 and over in Germany in 2023, by federal state. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1161704/percentage-of-teachers-aged-50-and-over-in-germany-by-federal-state/
  4. Statista. (2023). Part-time employment rate in Germany from 2000 to 2023. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1049035/part-time-employment-rate-in-germany/
  5. UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2021). Teachers in Germany. Retrieved from https://uis.unesco.org/country/ger#education-indicators-and-statistics-teachers
  6. The analysis on Germany's teaching workforce reveals that a significant portion of teachers are over 50, with an increased prevalence in regions like Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, indicating a potential need for succession planning in the science and health-and-wellness sectors, given the importance of relevant education and continued growth in workplace-wellness.
  7. The study also shows a higher prevalence of part-time work among female teachers compared to their male counterparts, hinting at a potential connection between women's higher involvement in education-and-self-development and their preference for flexible work arrangements, particularly due to family commitments.
  8. Moreover, understanding the underlying elements influencing part-time work among women teachers, such as societal expectations, career choices, and access to family support policies, is crucial for promoting gender equality in the workplace and ensuring women's well-being in their professional and personal lives, as well as overall health-and-wellness, particularly in the realm of women's health.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest