Part-Time Work in the Nordic Region III

123 Pages·2016·3.55 MB·English

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Part-Time Work in the Nordic Region III
An introductory study of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland Islands
Part-Time Work in the NordicRegion III
Gender equalityin the labour market isa key topicin the Nordic
cooperation on gender equality. As a follow up to two earlier
reports on part-time workthisthird report isan introductory
study to part-time workand gender in the Faroe Islands,
Greenland and Åland Islands. The aim is to map whatisknown
about part-time work, and where possible, explain working
patternsin these areas. The report gives an overview of the
labour markets of the three areas and introduces part-time work
based on existing data. The report also present findings from an
exploratory study with women who work part-time in the Faroe
Islands. Erika Anne Hayfield, PhD, AssistantProfessor ofSocial
Sciencesat the University of the Faroe Islands, Rógvi Olavson,
MScSociology and LívPatursson, MSc Gender Studieswrote the
report on request byNIKK, for the NordicCouncil of Ministers.
TemaNord 2016:518
ISBN 978-92-893-4531-6 (PRINT)
ISBN 978-92-893-4529-3 (PDF)
ISBN 978-92-893-4528-6 (EPUB)
ISSN 0908-6692

Part-Time Work in the
Nordic Region III
An introductory study of the Faroe Islands,
Greenland and Åland Islands

Erika Anne Hayfield, Rógvi Olavson and Lív Patursson

TemaNord 2016:518
Part- Time Work in the Nordic Region III
An introductory study of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland Islands
Erika Anne Hayfield, Rógvi Olavson and Lív Patursson
ISBN 978-92-893-4531-6 (PRINT)
ISBN 978-92-893-4529-3 (PDF)
ISBN 978-92-893-4528-6 (EPUB)
http://dx.doi.org/10.6027/TN2016-518
TemaNord 2016:518
ISSN 0908-6692
© Nordic Council of Ministers 2016
Layout: Hanne Lebech
Cover photo: NIKK (Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research,
Print: Rosendahls-Schultz Grafisk
University of Gothenburg)
Printed in Denmark
This publication has been published with financial support by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
However, the contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views, policies or recom-
mendations of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
www.norden.org/nordpub
Nordic co-operation
Nordic co-operation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involv-
ing Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland.
Nordic co-operation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an im-
portant role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic
community in a strong Europe.
Nordic co-operation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the
global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the
world’s most innovative and competitive.
Nordic Council of Ministers
Ved Stranden 18
DK-1061 Copenhagen K
Phone [phone]
www.norden.org
Contents
Preface ............................................................................................................................................................ 7
Summary ....................................................................................................................................................... 9
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 11
1.1 Purpose and motivation .................................................................................................. 11
1.2 What is part-time work? .................................................................................................. 12
1.3 Key Issues .............................................................................................................................. 13
1.4 Methods .................................................................................................................................. 15
1.5 Limitations ............................................................................................................................ 17
1.6 Outline ..................................................................................................................................... 18
2. Overview of the Self-Governing Areas and Their Labour Markets ............................ 19
2.1 The Faroe Islands ............................................................................................................... 20
2.2 Greenland ............................................................................................................................... 23
2.3 The Åland Islands ............................................................................................................... 27
3. Part-time work in the self-governing areas ......................................................................... 31
3.1 Part-time work in the Faroe Islands ........................................................................... 31
3.2 Part-time work in Greenland ......................................................................................... 43
3.3 Part-time work in the Åland Islands ........................................................................... 55
3.4 Part-time work: A comparative review ..................................................................... 66
4. Part-time work: An exploratory study .................................................................................... 75
4.1 Methods .................................................................................................................................. 76
4.2 Findings .................................................................................................................................. 78
4.3 Discussion .............................................................................................................................. 98
4.4 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 103
5. Conclusion and recommendations ......................................................................................... 107
Literature ................................................................................................................................................. 113
Sammanfattning .................................................................................................................................... 119

Preface
Creating equal economic opportunities for women and men in the Nordic
region is an important focus area for the Nordic cooperation. Part-time
work correlates with a lower level of economic independence on an indi-
vidual level and is likely to impact opportunities for positions of influence
in society. As part-time work is highly gendered, the question why part-
time work is so much more common among women than men is one of
the most pressing issues concerning gender equality in the Nordic region.
With support from the Nordic Council of Ministers, NIKK (Nordic In-
formation on Gender) has coordinated several projects on part-time work
in the Nordic region. The projects are part of NIKK’s assignment to gather
and distribute comparative information that can inform political discus-
sions related to gender equality. The aim of the project is to investigate
part-time work in the Nordic region and to disseminate knowledge on the
topic through e.g. reports and conferences.
In the summer of 2015, NIKK requested a report on part-time work
in the self-governing areas of the Nordic region as a follow-up to the two
earlier reports on part-time work in the Nordic countries. Erika Anne
Hayfield, PhD and Assistant Professor of Social Sciences at the Univer-
sity of the Faroe Islands, and Rógvi Olavson, MSc in Sociology, wrote the
report in the winter months of 2015/2016. One of the chapters is based
on group interviews with women working part-time in the Faroe Is-
lands, and was carried out by Erika Anne Hayfield and Lív Patursson,
MSc in Gender Studies and research assistant at the University of the
Faroe Islands. All estimations, inferences and conclusions in the report
are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the viewpoints
and position of NIKK.
The authors received help from many people and would especially
like to thank Rasmus Ole Rasmussen for his support and assistance in ob-
taining and preparing data from Greenland. Furthermore, the authors are
thankful for the support and helpful comments from Elin Engström and
Josefine Alvunger at NIKK as well as from the reference group members
appointed by NIKK: Niels Thomas Andersen, Ministry of Family, Equality
and Social Welfare, Greenland; Linus Rispling, NordRegio; Annemette
Lindhardt Olsen, Statistics Denmark and Iris Åkerberg, Statistics and Re-
search Åland.
8 Part-Time Work in the Nordic Region III