Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Canada
Canada: Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person was 35.46 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Canada, 1976–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Canada recorded 35.46 for average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 50 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Canada peaked at 38.63 in 1976 and was at its lowest, 35.46, in 2025.
That places Canada 81st out of 88 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 38.63 | — |
| 1977 | 38.36 | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 38.36 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 38.23 | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 37.94 | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 37.77 | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 37.44 | -0.9% |
| 1983 | 37.3 | -0.4% |
| 1984 | 37.33 | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 37.4 | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 37.4 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 37.56 | +0.4% |
| 1988 | 37.6 | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 37.58 | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 37.48 | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 37.08 | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 37.02 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 36.98 | -0.1% |
| 1994 | 37.15 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 37.12 | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 36.99 | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 36.65 | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 36.68 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 36.72 | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 36.65 | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 36.59 | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 36.29 | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 36.22 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 36.43 | +0.6% |
| 2005 | 36.47 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 36.51 | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 36.44 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 36.27 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 35.88 | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 35.8 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 35.86 | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 35.99 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 35.95 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 35.83 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 35.86 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 35.71 | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 35.69 | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 35.77 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 35.7 | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 35.79 | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 35.71 | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 35.79 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 35.72 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 35.59 | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 35.46 | -0.4% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 35.46 is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.94, 91% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 38.39 | 38.23 | 38.63 | 4 |
| 1980s | 37.53 | 37.3 | 37.94 | 10 |
| 1990s | 36.99 | 36.65 | 37.48 | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.38 | 35.88 | 36.65 | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.82 | 35.69 | 35.99 | 10 |
| 2020s | 35.68 | 35.46 | 35.79 | 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 usually worked per employed person in Canada?
- Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Canada was 35.46 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 38.63 in 1976.
- What is the lowest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.46 in 2025.
- How does Canada rank for average weekly hours usually worked per employed person?
- Canada ranks 81st out of 88 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average weekly hours usually worked per employed person rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. 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 usually worked per employed person. 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. The concept of hours usually worked relates to the typical value of hours actually worked in a job per a short reference period such as one week, over a long observation period of a month, quarter, season or year that comprises the short reference measurement period used. The typical value may be the modal value of the distribution of hours actually worked per short period over the long observation period, where meaningful. The short reference period for measuring hours usually worked should be the same as the reference period used to measure employment. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.