Germany's average working hours per person fall slightly

The average number of working hours per person in Germany has fallen slightly, after years of increases. 

Germany's Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) released figures on Wednesday showing that in 2025, people aged between 20 and 64 worked 0.3 hours per week less than the record level set in 2023.

The BiB defines working hours per person as the average weekly working hours of all 20 to 64-year-olds, not just those in employment, and says it is an important indicator of the labour supply. 

The decline in working hours per person last year corresponds, in mathematical terms, to around 460,000 full-time jobs. According to the figures, the decline in working hours was particularly marked among men and in the younger and middle age groups (25 to 54-year-olds), while it continued to rise among older people. 

Among women, however, working hours remained largely stable at just over 24 hours per week. This is linked to the fact that there continue to be skills shortages in sectors such as education, childcare and health care, where women are particularly likely to be employed.

According to the calculations, per capita working hours among the over-60s continued to rise, partly due to the gradual increase in the state pension age.

Working hours per person fell most sharply among people with low educational attainment, while the decline was less pronounced among those with higher qualifications.