In 2024, the actual weekly hours of work for both full-time and part-time workers aged 20-64 in the EU in their main job averaged 36.0 hours, down from 37.0 hours in 2014.
A closer look at EU countries reveals notable differences. In 2024, the longest working weeks were recorded in Greece (39.8 hours), Bulgaria (39.0), Poland (38.9) and Romania (38.8). By contrast, the Netherlands had the shortest working week (32.1 hours), followed by Denmark, Germany and Austria (each 33.9).
Source dataset: lfsa_ewhan2
The economic activities recording the longest working week in the EU, in 2024, were agriculture, forestry and fishing (41.2 actual working hours), mining and quarrying (38.8) and construction (38.7), whilst the shortest working weeks were recorded in activities of households as employers (26.7), education (31.9) and arts, entertainment and recreation (32.9).
Source dataset: lfsa_ewhan2
Source: Eurostat, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/product?code=ddn-20250514-1
