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Greeks Work Longest Hours in EU but Earn Among Lowest Wages, Eurostat Finds

Workers in Greece logged the longest hours in the European Union in 2025 while earning among the lowest wages in the eurozone, according to new Eurostat data highlighting a persistent gap between labor input and pay. Average weekly working hours in the EU stood at 35.9, with Greece topping the bloc at 39.6 hours, followed by Bulgaria and Poland at 38.7. By contrast, the Netherlands recorded the shortest workweek at 31.9 hours, with Germany and Denmark at 33.9. The extended hours are partly driven by Greece’s large self-employed sector, where workers average 44.1 hours weekly and often exceed 50 hours in hospitality and food services. Salaried employees also work longer than the EU average, at 37.9 hours compared with 35.2 across the bloc. Despite this, wages remain significantly lower. Eurostat reported average annual net earnings for a single worker in the eurozone at €28,770. In Greece, the figure was just over €15,000, far behind countries such as Luxembourg at €54,260 and below Portugal at €19,709. Labor analysts say official figures understate the reality, citing widespread undeclared overtime and informal work. Data from Greece’s digital work card system showed sharp increases in recorded overtime as compliance checks expanded, while inspections under the “Athena” program identified thousands of violations, including unregistered shifts. The government has pledged to raise the minimum wage to €950 and revive collective bargaining. Economists say Mr. policymakers face a broader challenge: boosting productivity to close the gap with European living standards. By Giorgos Pappous Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr Workers in Greece logged the longest hours in the European Union in 2025 while earning among the lowest wages in the eurozone, according to new Eurostat data highlighting a persistent gap between labor input and pay. Average weekly working hours in the EU stood at 35.9, with Greece topping the bloc at 39.6 hours, followed by Bulgaria and Poland at 38.7. By contrast, the Netherlands recorded the shortest workweek at 31.9 hours, with Germany and Denmark at 33.9. The extended hours are partly driven by Greece’s large self-employed sector, where workers average 44.1 hours weekly and often exceed 50 hours in hospitality and food services. Salaried employees also work longer than the EU average, at 37.9 hours compared with 35.2 across the bloc. Despite this, wages remain significantly lower. Eurostat reported average annual net earnings for a single worker in the eurozone at €28,770. In Greece, the figure was just over €15,000, far behind countries such as Luxembourg at €54,260 and below Portugal at €19,709. Labor analysts say official figures understate the reality, citing widespread undeclared overtime and informal work. Data from Greece’s digital work card system showed sharp increases in recorded overtime as compliance checks expanded, while inspections under the “Athena” program identified thousands of violations, including unregistered shifts. The government has pledged to raise the minimum wage to €950 and revive collective bargaining. Economists say Mr. policymakers face a broader challenge: boosting productivity to close the gap with European living standards. By Giorgos Pappous Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr