Greeks worked longer hours than any other nation in Europe last year, according to new figures released by Eurostat.
The data reveals that 12.4% of Greece’s workforce clocked more than 49 hours per week in 2024, placing the country at the top of the EU overtime chart. Cyprus followed with 10%, and France came in third at 9.9%.
The findings echo a May 2024 survey by the Labor Institute of the Greek General Confederation of Labor (GSEE), which reported that more than half of respondents (52%) admitted working beyond the hours outlined in their contracts.
At the other end of the spectrum, the lowest levels of overtime in 2024 were recorded in Bulgaria (0.4%), Latvia (1%), and Lithuania (1.4%). Overall, across the EU, 6.6% of the work force aged 20 to 64 reported working overtime in 2024.
A Declining Trend, With Exceptions
Despite Greece’s leading position, Eurostat data highlights a long-term EU-wide decline in overtime. The share of workers clocking more than 49 hours a week has fallen from 9.8% in 2014 to 8.4% in 2019.
However, the burden is uneven. Self-employed individuals were far more likely to work overtime (27.5%) compared to employees (3.4%). By sector, the most affected were skilled workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing (26.2%), followed by managers (21.1%).
