How working hours have changed over time
Working hours have generally declined across advanced economies over the past two decades. The trend is consistent across countries, though the pace and starting levels vary significantly.
From 2000 to 2022, most countries in this chart show a gradual reduction in annual hours worked per worker. The pattern suggests a long-term shift rather than a short-term fluctuation.
South Korea shows the most dramatic change, dropping from about 2500 / hours in 2000 to around 1900 / hours in 2022. That is a reduction of roughly 600 / hours, equivalent to several months of work.
Top or extreme cases
South Korea consistently records the highest working hours across the period. Even after a large decline, it still leads in 2022 at about 1900 / hours.
The United States remains relatively high but stable, moving from roughly 1830 / hours in 2000 to about 1810 / hours in 2022. This indicates only a modest long-term reduction.
Germany sits at the lower end throughout the timeline. It declines from around 1450 / hours to about 1340 / hours, reinforcing its position as one of the shortest-working advanced economies.
Mid-range or comparison section
Japan starts near the United States at around 1820 / hours in 2000 but steadily declines to about 1600 / hours by 2022. This places it closer to the middle of the distribution over time.
The gap between countries narrows slightly, but differences remain significant. South Korea still works hundreds of hours more per year than Germany, even after its sharp decline.
While all countries trend downward, the slope varies. Some show steady declines, while others, like the United States, remain relatively flat.
Interpretation
The long-term decline in working hours reflects structural changes in advanced economies. These include productivity improvements, labor regulations, and shifts toward service-based industries.
Countries with stronger labor protections and shorter standard workweeks tend to reduce hours more consistently. Cultural expectations around work also play a role in how quickly hours decline.
The sharp drop in South Korea suggests deliberate policy and structural adjustments rather than gradual change.
What this means for people
For workers, the data shows that working time is not fixed. It evolves with economic conditions, labor policies, and workplace norms.
For remote workers, this trend is especially relevant. As flexibility increases, the focus may shift from total hours worked to output and efficiency.
This makes the trend important beyond just numbers. It reflects how work itself is changing, not only how much time is spent doing it.
Dataset
Data Sources
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2025). Average annual hours actually worked per worker (indicator).
https://data.oecd.org/emp/hours-worked.htm
Our World in Data. (2025). Annual working hours per worker (OECD-based dataset).
https://ourworldindata.org/working-hours
