Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Ireland
Ireland: Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job was 36 Hours per week per person in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week per person.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 36 Hours per week per person for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Ireland peaked at 43.51 Hours per week per person in 1986 and was at its lowest, 35.1 Hours per week per person, in 2011.
That places Ireland 28th out of 39 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Hours per week per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 43.22 Hours per week per person | — |
| 1984 | 43.01 Hours per week per person | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 42.89 Hours per week per person | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 43.51 Hours per week per person | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 43.16 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 43.06 Hours per week per person | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 43.1 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 42.74 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 42.32 Hours per week per person | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 41.78 Hours per week per person | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 41.26 Hours per week per person | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 40.96 Hours per week per person | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 40.78 Hours per week per person | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 40.95 Hours per week per person | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 40.07 Hours per week per person | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 38.79 Hours per week per person | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 38.07 Hours per week per person | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 38.02 Hours per week per person | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 37.72 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 37.45 Hours per week per person | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 37.13 Hours per week per person | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 37 Hours per week per person | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 36.82 Hours per week per person | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 36.6 Hours per week per person | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 36.39 Hours per week per person | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 36.07 Hours per week per person | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 35.33 Hours per week per person | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 35.11 Hours per week per person | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 35.1 Hours per week per person | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 35.23 Hours per week per person | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 35.45 Hours per week per person | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 35.75 Hours per week per person | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 36.05 Hours per week per person | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 36.14 Hours per week per person | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 36.56 Hours per week per person | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 36.8 Hours per week per person | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 36.86 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 36.86 Hours per week per person | -0.0% |
| 2021 | 36.55 Hours per week per person | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 36.64 Hours per week per person | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 36.09 Hours per week per person | -1.5% |
| 2024 | 35.97 Hours per week per person | -0.3% |
| 2025 | 36 Hours per week per person | +0.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 36 Hours per week per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 37.42 Hours per week per person, 96% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 36 Hours per week per person is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.27 Hours per week per person, 97% of the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.14 Hours per week per person | 42.89 Hours per week per person | 43.51 Hours per week per person | 7 |
| 1990s | 40.77 Hours per week per person | 38.07 Hours per week per person | 42.74 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.85 Hours per week per person | 35.33 Hours per week per person | 38.02 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.91 Hours per week per person | 35.1 Hours per week per person | 36.86 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.35 Hours per week per person | 35.97 Hours per week per person | 36.86 Hours per week per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 25 OECD 37.2 Hours per week per person compare
- 26 France 36.92 Hours per week per person compare
- 27 United Kingdom 36.26 Hours per week per person compare
- 29 Belgium 35.99 Hours per week per person compare
- 30 Switzerland 35.71 Hours per week per person compare
- 31 Finland 35.65 Hours per week per person compare
More work & labour data for Ireland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4488 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4574 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4405 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9335 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 4,354 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 1,447 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,638 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,649 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,286 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Ireland?
- Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Ireland was 36 Hours per week per person in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 43.51 Hours per week per person in 1986.
- What is the lowest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.1 Hours per week per person in 2011.
- How does Ireland rank for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job?
- Ireland ranks 28th out of 39 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This dataset contains data on average usual weekly hours worked in the main job broken down by total employment, full-time employment and part-time employment. Actual hours of work, instead of usual hours of work, are only available in some countries (Mexico and Korea). Data are further broken down by professional status - employees, total employment - by sex and standardised age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+ and total) . Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at: OECD Ratification Dates.