This is a figure higher than the European Union average, but relatively far from the top of the EU table: in Greece, hours worked are just under 40 per week.

“In 2024, the weekly hours actually worked in full-time and part-time jobs by workers aged 20 to 64 in the European Union in their main occupation were on average 36, down from 37 hours in 2014”.

Among the various European countries, there are “notable differences”, highlights Eurostat. While in Greece the average working week is 39.8 hours, in the Netherlands it is 32.1 hours.

In Portugal, workers work an average of 37.5 hours per week, which is above the EU average but relatively far from the almost 40 hours in Greece.

In the European table, Portugal appears as the 13th country with the longest working week. Still, compared to 2023, Portugal recorded a reduction: that year, the average week was 37.7 hours of work.

As for the economic activities in the European Union with the highest weekly working hours, Eurostat highlights agriculture, forestry and fishing (41.2 hours), followed by mining (38.8 hours) and construction (38.7 hours).

On the other hand, among the activities with shorter working weeks are, namely, education (31.9 hours), and arts, entertainment and recreation (32.9 hours).