BERLIN, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of the working poor in Germany has more than doubled between 2004 and 2014, according to an analysis by the trade union-linked Hans Boeckler Foundation.
The study defines the working poor as individuals who are at risk of poverty despite being employed. Estimated at a total of four million by researchers, Germany's working poor population grew at a faster rate than in any other member of the European Union (EU) in the period observed.
In 2004, the number of employed citizens aged 18 to 64 who earned less than 60 percent of Germany's mean income was still slightly less than five percent. 10 years later, it had risen to nearly 10 percent.
In absolute figures, the number of the working poor increased from 1.9 million in 2004 to 4.1 million in 2014.
"Obviously, the link between higher rates of employment and poverty is more complicated than generally assumed," the study's authors remarked.
While Germany currently enjoys historically-low unemployment rates, a significant share of jobs growth was due to part-time positions and other atypical and low-income employment.
The study further cited pressure on unemployed Germans to accept positions as having contributed to the growth of the working poor.
According to the country's related authorities, the German unemployment rate stood at 5.5 percent in June.
