Part-timers want to work longer

A substantial part of the workforce would like to put in more hours but find nothing to do, according to figures released in Brussels Eurostat said the “underemployed” part-time workers in Malta amounted to 2.5 per cent of the total workforce and 21.6 per cent of all those working part-time.

The study, based on the latest Labour Force Survey, also showed that, last year, 12.3 per cent of Malta’s workforce – particularly women – were engaged on a part-time basis.

Compared with the rest of the EU, the general employment situation in Malta was much better, with one of the lowest unemployment rates among member states.

More that 20 per cent of employed people in the eurozone only worked on a part-time basis. Among these, 20.2 per cent are considered to be “underemployed” part-timers as they would like to work more.

Eurostat said the largest proportions of part-time workers wishing to work more hours and were available to do so were found in Latvia (65 per cent of-part time workers), Greece (49 per cent), Spain (46 per cent), Bulgaria (39 per cent) and ­Slovakia (38 per cent), countries where the shares of employed persons working part-time are rather low.

On the other hand, the smallest proportion was found in the Netherlands (three per cent), where part-time work is most common, followed by Belgium (four per cent), the Czech Republic and Luxembourg (both 10 per cent).