UK workers log the longest hours

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Series Details Vol.7, No.26, 28.6.01, p6
Publication Date 28/06/2001
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Date: 28/06/01

By John Shelley

THE BRITISH are the hardest-working EU citizens and the Belgians the least, according to figures from the Union's statistical office.

Eurostat says UK nationals have the longest average working week at 43.6 hours, while Belgians on average work five hours less per week, at 38.5 hours. The EU average is 40.3 hours.

The figures are included in the Community labour force survey, published this week, which evaluates employment trends in Europe.

According to the report, 158.4 million people had full and part-time jobs in the EU in spring 2000, up by 2.9 million over last year. This represents an employment rate of 63.1%.

The Stockholm summit in March set an overall employment target of 67% for 2005, with a specific target of 57% for women. Seven member states have achieved this goal - Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

Apart from Denmark and Austria, where employment rates were virtually unchanged, employment went up in every EU nation between 1998 and 2000.

However, Italy, Spain and Greece still lag a long way behind with overall employment rates of 53.4%, 54.7% and 55% respectively.

Across Europe, women hold around one job in three overall, but close to eight out of every ten part-time jobs.

The British are the hardest-working EU citizens and the Belgians the least, according to figures from the Union's statistical office.

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