Extended Workweeks Affect 16% of Luxembourg’s Workforce

A new report from Luxembourg’s Gender Equality Observatory has revealed that 16% of employees in the country work more than 48 hours per week in their main job, based on figures from 2021. The findings, published in the Observatory’s 2024 activity report, shed light on notable gender differences in working hours and their consequences on daily life.

The data shows that 20% of men regularly exceed the 48-hour threshold, compared with 12% of women. According to the report, these figures suggest that men are more likely to engage in extended working hours.

Fatigue and Household Responsibilities
The impact of these long working hours is most evident at home. Fatigue after work was described as a “significant obstacle” to managing household tasks. On average, 24% of respondents said they were often too tired to take care of such responsibilities. The gender divide was again evident: 37% of women reported being frequently or always exhausted, compared to 27% of men.

The Ministry of Gender Equality, commenting on these findings, noted that the unequal burden of fatigue continues to reinforce imbalances in household responsibilities. This echoes earlier discussions in national debates about how unpaid domestic work disproportionately falls on women, especially when work-related fatigue is factored in.

Cultural and Sports Participation
Beyond work and family, the report also examined participation in cultural and sporting activities. In 2022, 81.9% of the population aged 16 and over took part in at least one such activity over the course of the year. Men reported slightly higher participation rates (83.2%) compared to women (80.6%).

While the differences are modest, the Ministry suggested they may reflect disparities in social and economic availability, personal preferences, or constraints. The report stressed the importance of ensuring equitable access to cultural and sporting opportunities for all groups in society.

The Observatory’s findings highlight the ongoing challenges in achieving both gender equality in the workplace and balance between professional, domestic, and social life. With a sizeable portion of employees still working beyond the 48-hour threshold, the report suggests that work-related fatigue remains a barrier not only to family responsibilities but also to broader participation in cultural life.

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