London is the most difficult location for obtaining a part-time position, new research suggests.

According to figures released by the London Development Agency (LDA), despite 32.1 per cent of the national workforce working on a part-time basis, in London the figure is now 26.1 per cent, reports the Financial Times.

Britain's capital currently has an overall employment rate of 69.3 per cent, 5.1 per cent lower than the national average.

"If we could transition our employment rate to the level of the other regions, the effect on London's GDP would be huge, benefiting the rest of the country," said Manny Lewis, chief executive of the LDA.

"Combating the employment and skills deficit is the biggest challenge as London grows," he added.

The difficulty faced by many when looking for part-time work is thought to be caused by a number of factors, including the capital's long-hours culture, in addition to the economic success of the city making employers favour full-time positions, the LDA suggests.

The LDA is a government agency established in order to promote the continued economic growth of London.