Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector in Canada
Canada: Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector was 29.81 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector in Canada, 1976–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Canada recorded 29.81 for average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector in Canada peaked at 32.99 in 1978 and was at its lowest, 29.62, in 2014.
Canada ranks 69th of 73 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 32.46 | — |
| 1977 | 32.52 | +0.2% |
| 1978 | 32.99 | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 32.74 | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 32.51 | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 31.82 | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 31.87 | +0.2% |
| 1983 | 31.86 | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 31.81 | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 32.03 | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 31.9 | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 31.46 | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 32.17 | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 32.64 | +1.5% |
| 1990 | 31.98 | -2.0% |
| 1991 | 31.65 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 31.13 | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 31.07 | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 31.64 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 31.57 | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 31.73 | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 31.49 | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 30.92 | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 31.38 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 31.81 | +1.4% |
| 2001 | 31.07 | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 31.05 | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 30.43 | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 30.22 | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 30.63 | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 30.3 | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 30.64 | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 30.4 | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 29.87 | -1.7% |
| 2010 | 30.44 | +1.9% |
| 2011 | 30.38 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 30.56 | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 30.27 | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 29.62 | -2.1% |
| 2015 | 30.08 | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 30.18 | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 29.99 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 30.43 | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 29.89 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 29.83 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 30.83 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | 30.09 | -2.4% |
| 2023 | 30.34 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 30.37 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 29.81 | -1.8% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 29.81 is below the median for high income countries, which is 33.59, 89% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 32.68 | 32.46 | 32.99 | 4 |
| 1980s | 32.01 | 31.46 | 32.64 | 10 |
| 1990s | 31.46 | 30.92 | 31.98 | 10 |
| 2000s | 30.64 | 29.87 | 31.81 | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.18 | 29.62 | 30.56 | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.21 | 29.81 | 30.83 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More work & labour data for Canada
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual 0.3281 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth 0.3334 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth 0.3231 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6552 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 39,234 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,715 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 26,798 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 26,814 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 53,612 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector in Canada?
- Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector in Canada was 29.81 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 32.99 in 1978.
- What is the lowest average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.62 in 2014.
- How does Canada rank for average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector?
- Canada ranks 69th out of 73 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average weekly hours actually worked per employee in the public sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Data on hours of work are presented, whenever possible, on the basis of the average number of hours of work per week, and with reference to hours worked in the main (paid) job regardless of working time arrangements (e.g. full-time and part-time). For more information, refer to the Worker and Sector Profiles (PROF) database description.