The Discrepancy between Actual and Preferred Work and Working Hours: Proposing a Triple-A Approach to Understand Employment and Time Constraints in the "Rush Hour" and "Autumn" of Working Life

Do women and men have the opportunity to fulfil their working time preferences in different national contexts? The answers will help explain the discrepancy between actual and desired labour force participation and the respective working hours. Underemployment is defined as working fewer hours than preferred or having no job at all. Overemployment, on the other hand, reflects either working too many hours or having a job even if one would prefer to work fewer hours or not being employed at all (anymore).
The novelty of this chapter is the synthesis of findings on the causes of underemployment and overemployment for the early and late stages of employment. The Triple-A approach reflects the interplay of availability, affordability and attractiveness of work and working time. The aim is to conceptualise how cross-national differences in employment and policy frameworks shape opportunities and needs, which also vary by gender, household and social stratification.