According to Eurostat, the average actual working week in the EU is 35.9 hours. However, this figure masks a sharp disparity between regions—ranging from economies with shorter workweeks to countries where the working week consistently exceeds 40 hours.
The lowest figure is recorded in the Netherlands—31.9 hours. The highest among EU countries is in Greece, at 39.6 hours. If we include candidate countries and some European states outside the bloc, the range widens even further: in Turkey, the average workweek reaches 42.4 hours—a level comparable to a six-day schedule of eight hours a day.
The Balkans form a consistent “upper cluster” in terms of working hours. Bosnia and Herzegovina (40.9 hours), Serbia (40.6), North Macedonia (39.5), and Bulgaria (38.7) consistently exceed the European average. Here, a 40-hour workweek is the norm, not the exception.
At the opposite end of the spectrum are Northern and parts of Western Europe. Following the Netherlands are Germany, Norway, and Denmark (33.9 hours each). In Austria, Belgium, and Finland, the figure also remains below 35 hours. This is a region where part-time employment and flexible contracts are already structurally altering the very average length of the workweek.
The gap is particularly noticeable among the EU’s largest economies. Germany has one of the lowest figures—33.9 hours—significantly lower than France (35.6), Italy (36.1), and Spain (36.3). The difference between Germany and Spain exceeds two hours per week, which is equivalent to nearly one workday per month.
This contrast is not due to a single cause, but rather to the structure of the labor market. Where collective bargaining agreements and union mechanisms are strong, working hours are more strictly limited and better controlled. Where institutional pressure is weaker, the actual length of the workweek turns out to be higher—due to overtime and longer standard schedules.
The second key factor is the structure of employment. In countries with a high share of part-time employment, the average figure automatically decreases. In the Netherlands, this accounts for nearly half of the labor market. In economies with a higher share of self-employed workers and traditional industries, conversely, the workweek is extended.
A sectoral breakdown highlights the contrast: in agriculture, forestry, and fishing, the average workweek reaches 42 hours. Managers and military personnel also consistently work more than the average. At the same time, office workers and service sector employees more often work 34–35 hours.
Europe is ultimately becoming increasingly divided not only by income level but also by a basic “rhythm of time”— — from economies with a shorter, flexible workweek to countries where the workload remains close to the traditional 40+ hours.
