Europeans Working Less as Declining Work Hour Trend Persists Post-Pandemic
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Europeans, especially men, are working fewer hours on average compared to before the pandemic, continuing a decades-long trend of declining work hours.
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Three groups driving this trend are young people working part-time while studying, men in general including fathers, and older workers over 55.
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Women continue to work fewer hours than men on average, but the gender gap in hours and employment rates has narrowed over time.
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Richer European countries have seen larger declines in average work hours, consistent with economic theory about the income effect.
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Forecasts expect modest further reductions in average hours in technologically advanced European countries, but AI and climate change policy may accelerate long-term declines.