Rich Countries, Short Weeks: Europe’s East-West Labour Divide
Europe’s labour landscape reveals a clear regional split: wealthy nations in the North and West, including the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark, thrive on flexibility, shorter workweeks, and robust employment rates exceeding 75%. These countries strike a balance between prosperity and adaptability, highlighting how economic strength is aligned with modern, flexible working arrangements.
In contrast, Eastern and Southern European countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and Hungary, as well as Mediterranean states such as Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus, strongly prefer traditional full-time schedules, with fewer than 10% of jobs being part-time.
Countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany exemplify efficiency, consistently working up to four hours fewer than predicted by their GDP. Conversely, Luxembourg, Greece, and Iceland work longer hours than their wealth suggests.
Across most of Europe, prosperity tends to align with flexibility, reduced working hours, and higher employment rates, yet cultural traditions and unique economic factors continue to shape these exceptions.
