Coe-Rexecode publishes, for the first time, figures of actual working time in European countries. These figures, based on the annual Eurostat « Labour Forces Survey», have not been available until now. This study establishes the reality of working time in Europe.

Coe-Rexecode releases previously unpublished figures on actual working time and compares employment strategies implemented in France and in Europe.

The Coe-Rexecode study establishes the reality of working time in Europe. The study is based on the statistical survey, conducted by Eurostat, which provides comparable figures on working time for all European countries :

1. The data concern the actual annual working time (i.e. the number of hours actually worked during the year) ;
2. The comparisons are based on the averages of comparable and homogenous workers’ categories (a distinction is made between employees and employed persons except employees, as well as between full-time and part-time employees).

The comparison established by Coe-Rexecode between the European countries leads to three major results :

1. The actual average yearly working time of full-time employees in France is, with Finland, the lowest in the European Union (1,679 hours in 2010, that is 224 hours less than in Germany);
2. After the 35-hour workweek reform, France experienced the strongest reduction in the European Union of actual working time of full-time salaried employees over the last 10 years (270 fewer hours between 1999 and 2010 compared to 124 fewer hours for Germany).
3. In addition, the actual average annual working time among full-time employed persons except employees (2,453 hours) and part-time employees (978 hours) in France is in the high range of European average.

The report (in french) and the dataset are available online :

La durée effective de travail en France et en Europe
Document de travail N.29, Janvier 2012