Data reveals people working 94 hours less annually than 30 years ago

The feel-good PR agency has revealed that people in the UK are working 94 fewer hours annually than 30 years ago, suggesting that employees are prioritising work-life balance and their personal happiness over working long hours

Lem-uhn analysed 30 years of ONS data to discover that the average person is working five per cent fewer hours than in 1993. This equates to 93.6 hours fewer annually, 7.8 hours fewer per month and 1.8 hours fewer per week.

The weekly average for working hours had remained relatively steady prior to the pandemic. In January – March 2003, 2013 and 2019, the average working hours were 37.5 hours per week. However, following the pandemic, it has dropped to 36.4 hours per week.

This figure is the lowest number of hours worked over the past 30 years excluding data from the pandemic when the number of hours dropped to 30.5 hours worked per week on average in April – June 2020.

Riannon Palmer, MD of Lem-uhn comments: “The pandemic has proved a pivotal moment for many. Everyone slowed down and took a step back from their normal lives including working routines. I believe this provided the opportunity for individuals to reassess their priorities and many realised that a happier life was what they value most.”