The data revealed that the Netherlands had the lowest average working hours at 32.2 hours per week, followed by Austria with 33.6 hours and Germany with 34.0 hours. Across the EU, the average weekly working hours for people aged 20-64 was 36.1 hours.

Gender disparity in working hours

The figures also highlighted a significant gender disparity in working hours. In 2023, full-time employed men in the EU worked an average of 39.8 hours per week, compared to 37.8 hours for women.

For women, the longest working weeks were recorded in Romania (39.5 hours), Latvia (39.4 hours), and Greece (39.3 hours). The shortest working weeks for women were in the Netherlands (35.2 hours), Finland (35.7 hours), and Ireland (36.5 hours).

For men, seven EU countries reported average working weeks exceeding 40 hours. Greek men led the list with an average of 42.5 hours per week, followed by Cyprus (41.3 hours) and Poland (41.1 hours).

Countries with shorter working weeks

In contrast, men in Finland and Luxembourg worked fewer hours, averaging 38.4 hours per week. The Netherlands and Sweden also reported lower averages, with men working 38.8 hours per week in each country.

Broader implications

These findings reflect the varied working cultures and economic conditions across the EU. While countries like Greece and Romania exhibit longer working hours, others like the Netherlands and Austria demonstrate shorter work weeks, potentially indicative of different labour market policies and societal attitudes towards work-life balance.

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