How many hours do persons in employment usually work per week? And how many hours are worked in a household? Working hours are a major variable of the quality of employment as they are usually linked to both salaries and workload as well as to the possibility of balancing work and private interests.
In many households more than one person is employed
In 2023, 35.9 hours per week were usually worked per household in Germany. However, if only households at least one person is employed are considered, the figure rises to 53.8 hours per week.
| Year | Working hours per household | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | with employed household members | |
| Source: Results of the Labour Force Survey | ||
| 2008 | 34.3 | 54.1 |
| 2013 | 34.9 | 53.9 |
| 2018 | 35.4 | 53.3 |
| 2023 | 35.9 | 53.8 |
The different results are due to the fact that the sum total of all households also includes non-active households (for example pensioners). In households where at least one person is employed, it can often be assumed that another household member also works. This can be seen in comparison with the average normal weekly working time per employee, which is lower at 34.3 hours.
Information on the Indicator
Description or definition
Arithmetic mean of hours usual worked per week and household or household with employed persons.
Source:
Labour Force Survey
Information for interpretation
The microcensus with the integrated European labour force survey has been redesigned in 2020. The list of questions and the concept of the sample survey were modified, and with the introduction of an online questionnaire, the form of data collection were also changed. The results from survey year 2020 onward are therefore comparable with those of previous years only to a limited extent.
Further methodological changes affecting the results were performed in 2005, 2011 and 2021. Consequently, the results for those years can be compared with the results for previous years to a limited extent only.
The extrapolation of microcensus data uses the population figures from the 2011 Census, which was conducted as at 9 May 2011. The results have been revised from 2010 onwards. With effect from the year 2016, the sample is based on the 2011 census data. This transition affects the comparability of the results with previous years.
For more information please refer to Methods: Quality Reports and Explanations (only in German).
Further information
Redesigned microcensus as of 2020