EU workers: 7% worked long hours in 2022 (Eurostat figures)

In the EU, 7% of employed people worked long hours (working usually 49 hours or more per week) in their main job in 2022, according to the last figures released by Eurostat.

A higher rate of self-employed people worked long hours (30% of total self-employed people) compared with employees (4% of total employees).

Furthermore, long working hours were more common among skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers (28% of total skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers) and managers (24%) compared with any other major occupational group (all with less than 8%).

Across the EU countries, Greece had the highest share of workers with long hours (13%), followed by France and Cyprus (each 10%). Meanwhile, the lowest rates were recorded in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Latvia (each 1%).

These statistics are published in relation to International Workers’ Day.