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5 Growth in the number of part-time employees slowed down

5.1 Number of part-time employees highest in female-dominated industries

According to the Labour Force Survey, 374,000 employed persons worked part-time in 2012. Some 15 per cent of all employed persons worked part-time. Of them, 311,000 were employees. The Labour Force Survey data on part-time employment is based on the respondents’ own reporting. The following only concerns part-time employees.

The number of part-time employees grew slightly (+4,000) in 2012 from the previous year. The long-term trend in part-time employment has been a growing one since 1997. Part-time employment is more widespread among women than men. Persons employed part-time numbered 216,000, or 20 per cent, among female employees and 95,000, or nine per cent, among male employees. From the previous year, the number grew for female employees, but not for male ones. (Figures 13 and 14.)

Nearly three-quarters of the part-time employees worked in the private sector. The numbers of part-time employees were the highest in the female dominated industries of wholesale and retail trade, and human health and social work activities. The share of part-time employees of all employees was the largest, or 38 per cent, in retail trade (excl. motor vehicle trade).

Figure 13. Part-time employees aged 15 to 74 by sex in 2000-2012

Figure 14. Share of part-time employees among employees aged 15 to 74 by sex in 2000-2012, %

5.2 Studying is still the commonest reason for working part-time

Working part-time suits the life situation of many of those who are employed part-time. By contrast, part-time employment can be viewed as one form of underemployment in cases where the employee has not succeeded in finding full-time work even if he/she would have wanted it.

In 2012, studying was again the commonest reason why employees worked part-time. Approximately 30 per cent of part-time employees quoted this reason. Working part-time is widespread among employees between the ages of 15 and 24 of whom 39 per cent worked part-time in 2012.

Other reported reasons related to life situation were caring for children or relatives, and health reasons. Nearly all of those who reported caring for children or relatives as the reason for working part-time were women. For one-quarter of part-time employees the reason for working part-time was that full-time work was not available. In 2012, employees working part-time involuntarily numbered 79,000, of whom 57,000 were women and 22,000 men.

Among the 55 to 64-year-old employees, the number of part-time workers was 64,000, which is 17 per cent of all employees in this age group.

Source: Labour Force Survey 2012. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Pertti Taskinen 09 1734 2690, Joanna Viinikka 09 1734 3796, tyovoimatutkimus@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 5.3.2013