I think that the country makes a huge difference here. It’s of course naïve to assume that you specifically had the choice, but there are most certainly places where that choice does genuinely exist.
The working population in my own country averages 27.7 hours per week. Excerpt from that source:
Use refers to labour market participation. Net labour participation is trending upwards. In 2024, 73.2 percent of all 15 to 74-year-olds were in employment, and in 2023 the Netherlands had the highest net labour participation in the EU. The average worker worked 27.7 hours per week in 2024. This is the total number of hours actually worked by those in employment; hours not worked due to leave and sickness are not included. The number of hours worked is partly determined by the number of working days in a year. Compared to other EU countries, the number of weekly working hours per worker in the Netherlands has long been very low. The number of weekly working hours has been stable for a decade or so, however, while other countries have seen declines. Because net labour participation in the Netherlands is relatively high, the total number of hours worked per inhabitant is slightly higher than average compared to other EU countries.
Outcomes refers to proceeds from work, working conditions and occupational safety. The outcomes point to stable well-being, at best. Dutch workers’ real hourly wages are among the highest in the EU: in 2021 prices, workers earned an average of 28.8 euros per hour worked in 2023. Real hourly wages have not increased since 2009, except for a brief spike during the pandemic. In 2009, the real hourly wage was 29.8 euros per hour worked. Hourly wages are also stable in other EU countries, although there have been particularly pronounced increases in Ireland and Eastern Europe.
The Netherlands has the highest percentage of workers in flexible employment in the EU. In 2024, 32.8 percent of workers had temporary employment contracts or worked a flexible number of hours per week. This figure is currently trending downwards after peaking at 37.1 percent in 2017. While a degree of labour market flexibility benefits entrepreneurs, it also has a negative effect on the well-being of workers. This is because a flexible employment relationship offers less livelihood security. Job and income security can influence the decisions that people make, for instance when it comes to buying a house or having children.
Now, you could of course remark that this age group is quite broad (15-74), but for people aged 20-64, it is still 32.1 hours. Of course, there is still the man/woman split, but this does not account for everything.
But of course not everyone lives here! So indeed we should be mindful that not everyone has this choice, and even in this country, there are plenty of people who do not have the luxury to be able to work part time.
I think that the country makes a huge difference here. It’s of course naïve to assume that you specifically had the choice, but there are most certainly places where that choice does genuinely exist.
The working population in my own country averages 27.7 hours per week. Excerpt from that source:
Now, you could of course remark that this age group is quite broad (15-74), but for people aged 20-64, it is still 32.1 hours. Of course, there is still the man/woman split, but this does not account for everything.
But of course not everyone lives here! So indeed we should be mindful that not everyone has this choice, and even in this country, there are plenty of people who do not have the luxury to be able to work part time.
Yes, I guess it depends on the labor law, and the culture i.e. how patriarchal the country is.
Curiously, in my family it is also 32 hours on average. Me 40, my wife 24.