Overview

• The HDI study is based on a representative YouGov poll of 3,739 employees conducted in June and July.
• Preference for shorter hours is strongest among younger workers, with 57% of under‑40s favoring part-time versus 49% of those 40 and older.
• Official IAB figures show the part-time share hit 40.1% in the second quarter, with 16.971 million part-time employees as full-time employment edged lower.
• When choosing comparable roles, 43% prefer public-sector jobs versus 40% for private employers, citing job security most often, followed by retirement benefits, better net pay and lower stress.
• The findings cut against Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan to replace the daily eight-hour limit with a weekly maximum to raise output.