6.6% of employed people worked 49 hours or more weekly

In 2024, 6.6% of employed people aged 20 to 64 in the EU worked long hours, defined as usually spending 49 hours or more weekly in their main job. This share of workers with long hours has decreased over time, down from 9.8% in 2014 and 8.4% in 2019.

Among the EU countries, Greece had the highest share of workers with long hours (12.4%), followed by Cyprus (10.0%) and France (9.9%). In contrast, the lowest rates were recorded in Bulgaria (0.4%), Latvia (1.0%) and Lithuania (1.4%). 

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/cache/news/maps/employed-long-hours-2024.html

Source dataset: lfsa_qoe_32a

The share of self-employed people who worked long hours (27.5% of total self-employed people) was higher than that of employees (3.4% of total employees). 

Out of all occupational groups, as defined by the international standard classification of occupations (ISCO), long working hours were most common among skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (26.2% of all employed people in that occupation group) and managers (21.1%).

For more information

• Thematic section on quality of employment
• Database on quality of employment
• Statistics 4 beginners on the labour market
• European Statistical Monitor

Methodological notes

• Data presented in this article refers to employed people aged 20 to 64.
• Main job: the job 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).
• Long working hours: 49 or more hours in main job 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 and excludes the travelling time between home and workplace and the time taken for the main meal break (usually at lunchtime).

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