Man looking tired at a desk.

In the EU, 7% of employed people worked long hours (working usually 49 hours or more per week) in their main job in 2022. 

A higher rate of self-employed people worked long hours (30% of total self-employed people) compared with employees (4% of total employees). Furthermore, long working hours were more common among skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (28% of total skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers) and managers (24%) compared with any other major occupational group (all with less than 8%). 
 

Source dataset: lfsa_qoe_32a

Across the EU countries, Greece had the highest share of workers with long hours (13%), followed by France and Cyprus (each 10%). Meanwhile, the lowest rates were recorded in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Latvia (each 1%). 

These statistics are published in relation to International Workers' Day.
 

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Methodological notes: 

  • The International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) is an international classification managed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It is a tool for organising jobs into a defined set of groups according to the tasks and duties undertaken in the job. 
  • Main job: the one where the respondent usually works the most hours (i.e. with the longest hours usually worked, as defined in the current international statistical standards on working time) except people on parental leave performing some work.
  • Long working hours: 49 hours or more per week. 
  • Usual working hours: the number of hours usually worked per week comprises all hours including extra hours, either paid or unpaid, which the person normally works, but excludes the travelling time between home and workplace and the time taken for the main meal break (usually at lunchtime).

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