The economic downturn is already having an impact on working time, according to a study: In the third quarter from July to September, there was more short-time work and less overtime, as well as weaker development, especially in export-dependent full-time jobs, according to the Institute for Employment Research (IAB). Although the number of working hours increased overall, the reason for this was above all a so-called calendar effect. In the third quarter of 2019, there was one more working day than in the same quarter last year.
The number of short-time workers rose according to preliminary projections in the third quarter by 28,000 to 64,000, as the IAB announced. With short-time working, companies can react to cyclical declines in production without having to lay off employees. However, despite the recent increase, the number of people working in reduced working hours is still far from the level reached in acute economic crises. For comparison: At the height of the global financial and economic crisis in 2009, the number of short-time workers was at 1.5 million.
Four million have more than one job
Another indicator points to a weaker utilization of many companies: The number of overtime drops significantly. On average, employees paid 6.2 paid and 5.4 unpaid overtime hours. This was 0.7 paid and 0.4 unpaid hours less than in the third quarter of 2018.
The number of multiple employees also exceeded the four-million mark for the first time in the third quarter, standing at just under 4.1 million. The trend towards multiple jobs has been going on for 16 years, explained the IAB. Multiple employment can therefore be subject to social insurance or even minor.
