Women with children (aged 25-54) are more likely to work part-time than childless women (7.5% vs. 5%) but far less frequently than their counterparts in countries like Austria, Germany, or the Netherlands, where the rate exceeds 60%.
Polish mothers are less inclined to take part-time jobs due to limited availability, lower societal acceptance of flexible work arrangements, and financial challenges associated with reduced pay. Since 2021, there has been a slight increase in part-time employment in Poland, reversing a previous declining trend.
Mothers in Poland also face a 6-percentage-point lower employment rate than childless women, highlighting challenges in balancing work and childcare.
The lack of systemic support for flexible work arrangements contributes to fewer Polish women with children working part-time compared to their EU counterparts.
Why is part-time work in Poland difficult? Employers often expect full-time results for lower pay
According to the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), low part-time employment rates stem from labor market constraints (part-time workers often face similar workloads as full-time employees but for less pay), cultural employment norms, and insufficient childcare support.
As previously reported by Radio Poland, women earn 513 PLN (about $123 or €118) less per month than Polish men. This disparity persists even when women are equally or better educated and hold comparable positions, primarily due to gender-based pay discrimination.
Source: PAP/Eurostat
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