Part-time work and gender inequality in Europe: a comparative analysis of satisfaction with work-life balance

Part-time work is an increasingly common strategy for handling work and family - but is it an effective strategy everywhere and for everyone? To answer this question, we examine satisfaction with work-life balance (SWLB) of workers in 22 European countries. Our results show that part-time workers have higher SWLB than full-time workers; the more so, the fewer hours they put in. Yet, we find an important gender difference: women in marginal part-time work are more satisfied than men in a similar situation, and conversely men in full-time work have higher SWLB than women working full-time. Further, the societal context plays an important role: substantial part-time work is more conducive to SWLB in more gender-egalitarian countries than in countries with low gender equality. Hence, a supportive gender climate and institutional support may entice workers to reduce working hours moderately, which results in markedly increased levels of SWLB.