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Overworked: Cyprus Among The EU’s Heaviest Hit With Long Working Hours

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 9, 2025

In the European Union, working long hours is a reality for millions. While the EU average workweek stands at 36 hours, the figures vary significantly from country to country.

Eurostat defines “long hours” as 49 or more per week, a category that applies to 7.1% of the EU workforce. Among the EU countries, the highest rates of long working hours are seen in Greece (11.6%), Cyprus (10.4%), and France (10.1%).

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The figures show a sharp contrast between self-employed individuals and employees, with 29.3% of the self-employed working long hours compared to just 3.6% of employees. Outside the EU, Turkey has the highest rate, with 27.2%, followed by Iceland with 13.8%.

Percentage of people working at least 49 hours a week

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Which Countries Have The Longest Working Week?

Turkey has the longest average working week at 44.2 hours, followed by Serbia (41.7 hours), Bosnia and Herzegovina (41.4 hours), and Greece (39.8 hours). The EU average, meanwhile, is 36.1 hours.

The sectors with the longest working hours are predominantly manual, with agriculture, forestry, and fishing leading the charge with an average of 41.5 hours per week, followed by mining and quarrying (39.1 hours), and construction (38.9 hours). Conversely, the shortest workweeks are found in the Netherlands (32.2 hours), Austria (33.6), and Germany (34.0).

Average working hours per week

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What’s The Situation In Cyprus?

In Cyprus, the working hours reflect a balance between the Mediterranean work culture and the global demand for productivity. With 10.4% of the workforce engaged in long hours (49 or more per week), Cyprus is among the countries with the highest rates in the EU. However, the overall average working week in Cyprus is relatively close to the EU average, standing at around 38.5 hours.

Similar to other EU countries, self-employed Cypriots are more likely to work longer hours compared to employees. Professions in sectors like agriculture, construction, and retail drive much of this statistic, as these industries often require extended working hours to meet demand.

Despite this, Cyprus has made strides in improving work-life balance, particularly in sectors outside of manual labor, where shorter working weeks are becoming more common. However, the island’s economic structure, heavily influenced by tourism and service industries, continues to push for longer working hours in certain areas, especially during peak seasons.

In conclusion, while Cyprus ranks high in terms of long working hours within the EU, ongoing efforts to modernize work practices and improve labor rights are expected to gradually alter the dynamics of work-life balance on the island in the coming years.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

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Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.