Non-EU Citizens Lead in EU Part-Time Employment
Aug 1, 2025
Category: EU Foreign Workers News
Non-European Union (EU) citizens were more likely to work part-time in the EU in 2024.
This highlights ongoing disparities in employment conditions among migrant populations, despite a gradual narrowing of the gap over the past decade.
Non-EU workers see highest part-time rates
Eurostat reports that non-EU citizens accounted for 22.2% of all part-time employment in the EU labor market in 2024. That figure surpassed the 20.8% recorded by EU citizens living in other EU countries and the 16.6% by nationals working in their own country.
This trend isn’t new. Since 2014, EU nationals working in their own countries consistently had the lowest share of part-time jobs.
While the overall share of part-time employment has dropped across all groups, the gap remains widest for migrants from outside the EU.
A steady decline hides key differences
From 2014 to 2024, part-time employment decreased steadily across all three categories. Non-EU citizens, however, saw the sharpest drop.
This shift hints at growing integration, improved access to full-time roles, or shifting economic needs.
Still, their rates remain highest, suggesting persistent structural barriers or personal constraints. Migrants may accept part-time work due to language challenges, family responsibilities, or limited access to social networks that offer job leads.
Gender gap widens among migrant groups
Gender divides complicate the picture. Across all nationalities, women are more likely to work part-time than men. But among mobile workers, the difference becomes striking.
In 2024, 36.8% of non-EU women worked part-time, compared to only 11.8% of non-EU men. Among EU citizens living in another EU country, 35.8% of women were employed part-time, while just 7.9% of men did the same.
Even among EU nationals working in their own country, women’s part-time rate reached 27%, far higher than the 7.4% for men.
This pattern points to care responsibilities, cultural expectations, or limited support for migrant mothers balancing work and family life. In many cases, women face the double burden of being both migrant and primary caregiver.
Why migrants work part-time
Several reasons explain the higher part-time rates among non-EU citizens. These include:
- Legal barriers such as visa limits on working hours
- Language gaps that reduce eligibility for full-time jobs
- Recognition issues where foreign qualifications go unacknowledged
- Family duties such as child-rearing without access to daycare
- Discrimination in hiring or promotion processes
For many, part-time work is not a choice but a stepping stone or a trap. It offers income and flexibility but often comes without benefits, job security, or long-term growth.
EU focus on inclusion
The data in this report is part of the EU’s broader labor force survey. Policymakers use this information to shape integration plans, such as the 2021–2027 Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion.
Efforts now target helping migrants, especially women, access better work through training, child care, and qualification recognition. But progress remains uneven across member states.
Seasonal entry, structural work
With part-time roles more prevalent among non-EU citizens, seasonal or temporary jobs may appeal to travelers entering under schemes like the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), which will allow 90-day visits in a 180-day period.
This trend could blur the line between tourism and short-term labor migration, particularly for travelers from visa-exempt countries seeking to supplement travel costs.
However, ETIAS’ non-work classification and strict border scrutiny underscore a growing tension: the increasing demand for flexible labor does not easily align with evolving entry systems designed for short-term leisure or business, not informal employment.
From precarity to policy
The higher incidence of part-time employment among non-EU migrants reflects both structural inequality and barriers to full labor market integration.
For prospective migrants, this data signals the importance of language proficiency, credential recognition, and legal status in securing stable work. For current residents, persistent part-time work may limit social mobility and deepen reliance on precarious income.
As EU nations push for more inclusive labor frameworks, these statistics reinforce the urgent need to match employment policy with integration goals under the 2021–2027 Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion.
Workforce as border policy
Labor market trends—especially the concentration of non-EU citizens in part-time work—may influence how EU member states define and regulate future migration flows.
Governments might adjust residency criteria, prioritize certain skill sectors, or tighten labor market tests for long-term visas. The pattern could also shift border policy emphasis from security to economic utility, especially in aging societies reliant on migrant labor.
Still, without harmonized standards, unequal access to full employment could inadvertently reinforce national divides in immigration strategy and deepen disparities between host countries.
Understanding roles in the EU part-time workforce
Part-time employment continues to shape the work experience of migrants across the European Union. As the data shows, non-EU citizens remain the most likely to work part-time, though the gap has narrowed over the past decade.
For many navigating life in a new country, these figures reflect broader challenges—and opportunities—in securing stable, meaningful work.
This matters because employment conditions influence everything from income stability to social integration.
Recognizing the trends in EU part-time employment helps migrants make informed decisions, advocate for their rights, and explore job paths that align with their goals.