Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person was 35.9 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in United Kingdom, 1983–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in United Kingdom stood at 35.9. That is the lowest value across all 43 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in United Kingdom peaked at 38.77 in 1988 and was at its lowest, 35.9, in 2025.
That places United Kingdom 79th out of 88 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 38.35 | — |
| 1984 | 38.13 | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 38.34 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 38.49 | +0.4% |
| 1987 | 38.43 | -0.2% |
| 1988 | 38.77 | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 38.74 | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 38.76 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 38.39 | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 38.08 | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 37.97 | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 38.08 | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 38.21 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 38.05 | -0.4% |
| 1997 | 38.06 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 38.02 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 37.64 | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 37.56 | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 37.67 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 37.42 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 37.17 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 36.98 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 37.05 | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 36.92 | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 36.98 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 36.9 | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 36.53 | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 36.38 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 36.35 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 36.3 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 36.43 | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 36.61 | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 36.64 | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 36.56 | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 36.55 | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 36.47 | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 36.48 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 36.46 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 36.5 | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 36.3 | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 36.02 | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 36.04 | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 35.9 | -0.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 35.9 is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.94, 92% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 35.9 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 39.22, 92% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 38.46 | 38.13 | 38.77 | 7 |
| 1990s | 38.13 | 37.64 | 38.76 | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.12 | 36.53 | 37.67 | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.48 | 36.3 | 36.64 | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.2 | 35.9 | 36.5 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in United Kingdom?
- Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in United Kingdom was 35.9 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 38.77 in 1988.
- What is the lowest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.9 in 2025.
- How does United Kingdom rank for average weekly hours usually worked per employed person?
- United Kingdom ranks 79th out of 88 countries with data for 2025.
- Is average weekly hours usually worked per employed person rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.