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In 2025, the actual weekly working hours of EU full-time and part-time workers aged 20-64 in their main job averaged 35.9 hours, down from 36.9 hours in 2015. 

Looking at the EU countries, the longest working weeks were recorded in Greece (39.6 hours), Bulgaria and Poland (both 38.7) and Lithuania (38.4). By contrast, the Netherlands had the shortest working week (31.9 hours), followed by Denmark and Germany (both 33.9) and Austria (34.0). 

Source dataset: lfsa_ewhan2

The occupations with the longest working week in the EU were skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (42.0 actual working hours), managers (40.6) and armed forces occupations (39.4). Conversely, the shortest working weeks were recorded in elementary occupations (31.8), clerical support workers (34.0) and service and sales workers (34.5).
 

Average number of actual weekly hours of work in the main job in the EU, 2025. Bar chart - Click below to see full dataset.

Source dataset: lfsa_ewhais

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Methodological notes

  • Actual weekly hours of work refer to the total number of hours a person has spent on work activities, during the reference week, in the main job. This encompasses all hours worked, including main job-related extra hours, irrespective of compensation. Excluded from this measure are periods of absence from work such as sick leave, holidays and commuting time.
  • The average working hours presented in the article include both full-time and part-time workers. The results are affected by the varying proportions of part-time workers across countries, in addition to differences in legal frameworks and in country-specific usual length of the workweek. 
  • Occupations are classified based on the International standard classification of occupations (ISCO).

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