Europe: since 2008 the working week got shorter in all 32 countries; EU 35.4 hours instead of 37.6
These are hours actually worked in the week in the main job. The biggest drop was in Turkey, from 49.7 to 42.0 hours. Part-time barely grew: 16.6% of EU workers in 2009, 17.7% in 2025.
More
Labour force surveys ask how many hours a person actually worked in the week. Since 2008 that number fell in every European country with data, almost everywhere already before the pandemic. Part-time explains only part of it: its share barely grew.
Lines: hours actually worked per week in the main job, all employed aged 15+.
- Turkey: hours a week hours
2008: 49.7; 2025: 42.0
Eurostat: EU Labour Force Survey (lfsa_ewhan2, lfsi_pt_a) · CC BY 4.0
- EU: hours a week hours
2008: 37.6; 2025: 35.4
Eurostat: EU Labour Force Survey (lfsa_ewhan2, lfsi_pt_a) · CC BY 4.0
- EU: part-time, % of employed 15–64 %
2009: 16.6; 2025: 17.7
Eurostat: EU Labour Force Survey (lfsa_ewhan2, lfsi_pt_a) · CC BY 4.0
Eurostat, lfsa_ewhan2 (all employed aged 15+, main job) and lfsi_pt_a (part-time, % of employed aged 15–64). Countries with data for 2008 and 2025: 32; by 2019 hours had already fallen in 29.
"Actual" hours include holidays, sick leave and public holidays falling in the survey week: more sick leave after 2020 may account for part of the fall. The make-up of workers changes: fewer farmers and self-employed with long weeks, more women and older people. In 2021 every country has a series break (new regulation); it caused no jump.
A question for this picture
And how much do young people earn now? In the US a young bachelor, after prices, about as in 1990.