Wysiwyg, it really is a waste to the economy. So many well educated, skilled people take any old part time jOb just because it is part time while their may still be a skill shortage in their area of expertise. I also work in IT and went back to work part time after having one child. If we had a second child I am not sure what we would have done but here I am 10 years later in the same part time job. Don't get me wrong, I know I am lucky but I would like to change jobs and nothing is advertised as part time and if I ring to ask , they always so no it is full time.
However I know in my workplace they find it difficult to recruit the right skill set and the work does fluctuate so it seems more sensible to have a good 3 day a week employee who is happy to up there hours when it is required, than have a skilled person who is bored 2 days a week as there is not enough work for them!! ( the girl who sits next to me at work is exactly like that!)
I think you need to get to interview with the actual company and if interview going well bring up work flexibility and if you get a favourable answer, talk about the hours you really want. Getting to interview will help clarify for you what is really out there and how things might look in 2017. Good luck.