Greeks worked longest hours in EU in 2024, Eurostat says

The figures show Greek employees worked nearly six hours more than the EU average of 36 hours per week, placing them significantly ahead of their counterparts in the EU’s core countries.

Among EU nations, Bulgaria followed Greece with an average of 39 hours per week, while Poland recorded 38.9 hours, and Romania 38.8 hours.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Netherlands had the shortest average working week at just 32.1 hours, followed by Denmark, Germany, and Austria, each with 33.9 hours.

In 2024, the actual average weekly working hours for both full-time and part-time employees aged 20 to 64 across the EU in their main jobs was 36.0 hours, a decrease from 37.0 hours in 2014.

The sectors of agriculture, forestry, and fishing recorded the longest average working weeks in the EU, with 41.2 actual hours worked per week, followed by mining and quarrying at 38.8 hours, and construction at 38.7 hours. 

The shortest working weeks were in household activities as employers, with just 26.7 hours, followed by education at 31.9 hours, and the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector at 32.9 hours.