Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job was 36.26 Hours per week per person in 2025. βΌ Falling
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in United Kingdom, 1983β2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in United Kingdom is 36.26 Hours per week per person, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in United Kingdom peaked at 39.04 Hours per week per person in 1988 and was at its lowest, 36.26 Hours per week per person, in 2025.
That places United Kingdom 27th 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 38.73 Hours per week per person | 38.39 Hours per week per person | 39.04 Hours per week per person | 7 |
| 1990s | 38.37 Hours per week per person | 37.96 Hours per week per person | 39.04 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.3 Hours per week per person | 36.7 Hours per week per person | 37.88 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.7 Hours per week per person | 36.5 Hours per week per person | 36.88 Hours per week per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.46 Hours per week per person | 36.26 Hours per week per person | 36.7 Hours per week per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Criminal penalties or civil remedies sexual harassment in employment 1 (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 76.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in United Kingdom?
- Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in United Kingdom was 36.26 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 39.04 Hours per week per person in 1988.
- What is the lowest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.26 Hours per week per person in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom rank for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job?
- United Kingdom ranks 27th out of 39 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
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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.