UK parents no longer work the longest hours in EU
By: News Archive
Fathers in the UK are no longer working the longest hours in Europe, according to a study of 17 countries involving the University of East Anglia.
Workers in the UK once had the longest week in the EU, but a decline since 2001 in average working hours among fathers means this is no longer the case. In 2001, fathers in the UK worked an average of 46.1 hours per week. By 2013, this had decreased to 43 hours (including part-time workers).
Meanwhile, the average working week for all British mothers, including those who work part-time, has increased from 26.8 to 29.1 hours in the same time period.
In 2013, the highest average weekly full-time working hours were found in Greece for both fathers (46 hours) and mothers (over 41 hours). UK fathers working full-time had the second longest hours on average (44.6), whereas full-time mothers worked on average 39.5 hours per week.
Three in 10 UK fathers regularly work over 48 hours per week, down from four in 10 in 2001. Greece now leads the EU in long working hours, with 40% of fathers working over 48 hours per week.
The research, published by NatCen Social Research, the Thomas Coram Research Unit (TCRU) at UCL and UEA, also found significant shifts in the working patterns of parents across Europe since the recession:
- The proportion of UK households where both parents work full time increased from 26.4% in 2001 to 30.8% in 2013.
- The proportion of UK households where neither parent work decreased from 6% in 2001 to 4.8% in 2013.
- In the UK there has been a significant decline in the proportion of fathers doing shift work or working evenings or nights. The proportion of fathers who usually work at weekends has increased significantly, while mothers’ weekend and shift work has remained the same.
- In 16 of the 17 countries studied, the proportion of sole male breadwinner households decreased – only in Slovakia did the proportion increase.
In countries that were most affected by the recession, the proportion of workless households significantly increased. In Greece, for example, the proportion of workless households increased from 2.4% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2013.
Dr Matthew Aldrich, lecturer in economics at UEA, said: “Whilst some countries were shielded from the effects of the recession, families in most European countries used a myriad of responses to the challenging labour market – particularly the use of non-standard working patterns and working hours.”
Prof Margaret O’Brien, director of the TCRU, said: “This research highlights the variety in family working practices across Europe and how this has changed over the last decade, a period that includes the Great Recession.”
Dr Svetlana Speight, research director at NatCen Social Research, said: “This new data builds on what we already knew about modern fatherhood: that the sole male breadwinner model is in decline across Europe. Mothers are now more likely to work and, in the UK, more likely to work full-time, at the same time as fathers are working a shorter week, which allows them to take on more childcare responsibilities.”
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