Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Ireland
Ireland: Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person was 36.69 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Ireland stood at 36.69.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Ireland peaked at 43.23 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 34.91, in 2011.
Ireland ranks 76th of 88 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 43.01 | — |
| 1984 | 42.81 | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 42.67 | -0.3% |
| 1986 | 43.23 | +1.3% |
| 1987 | 42.92 | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 42.84 | -0.2% |
| 1989 | 42.86 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 42.52 | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 42.12 | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 41.66 | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 41.13 | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 40.81 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 40.62 | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 40.85 | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 40 | -2.1% |
| 1998 | 38.7 | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 37.99 | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 37.84 | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 37.61 | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 37.43 | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 36.94 | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 36.88 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 36.71 | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 36.43 | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 36.24 | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 35.93 | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 35.18 | -2.1% |
| 2010 | 34.99 | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 34.91 | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 35.05 | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 35.31 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 35.61 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 35.81 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 35.86 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 36.23 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 36.43 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 36.42 | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 36.43 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 35.97 | -1.3% |
| 2022 | 36.27 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 35.36 | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 35.49 | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 36.69 | +3.4% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 36.69 is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.94, 94% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 36.69 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 39.22, 94% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 42.91 | 42.67 | 43.23 | 7 |
| 1990s | 40.64 | 37.99 | 42.52 | 10 |
| 2000s | 36.72 | 35.18 | 37.84 | 10 |
| 2010s | 35.66 | 34.91 | 36.43 | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.04 | 35.36 | 36.69 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
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 weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Ireland?
- Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Ireland was 36.69 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 43.23 in 1986.
- What is the lowest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.91 in 2011.
- How does Ireland rank for average weekly hours usually worked per employed person?
- Ireland ranks 76th out of 88 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average weekly hours usually worked per employed person rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ireland 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.