The EU slogan “United in Diversity” rings particularly true when considering the varying average working hours throughout the union.
The most recent Eurostat data reveals a broad range of how much time workers dedicate to their weekly full-time schedules.
According to official records, Greek workers log the longest hours on average. Employees in Greece clock in around 39.8 hours per week, which is the highest within the European Union.
Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania come next with approximately 39 hours per week.
However, outside the EU, the workweek extends longer still, with 43 hours in Turkey and 41 hours in Serbia.
Farmworkers and miners put in the most hours each week.
The report indicates that EU citizens are working somewhat fewer hours than they did a decade ago. Currently, the average across the union stands at 36 hours per week, down from 37 hours in 2014.
The data likewise reveals which industries have the highest and lowest levels of activity.
Farm laborers typically log the most hours per week, averaging around 41 hours, trailed closely by those in mining and construction who work just under 39 hours. Conversely, educators put in the fewest hours, clocking an average of about 32 hours weekly. This is comparable to professionals in the arts sector, whose typical workweek spans roughly 32.9 hours, and social service providers like social workers, who report working approximately 33.4 hours each week.
A four-day workweek: What nations have experimented with it?
A four-day workweek has been tested throughout Europe with varied outcomes and responses.
Firms participated in trials and testing in various nations such as the UK, Germany, Portugal, Iceland, France, and Spain.
Regardless, no European nation has legally required a four-day workweek with shortened hours for every sector of employment.
In 2022, Belgium became the first European nation to legislate for a shortened workweek. Despite this, workers have the option to condense their five-day schedule into four days; however, the total weekly working hours remain unchanged.
