Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in European Union (28 countries)

European Union (28 countries): Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to was 18 Hours per week in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
18 Hours per week
Change on year
down 5.3%
Rank
6th
of 8 groups
All-time high
21 Hours per week
in 2006
All-time low
17 Hours per week
in 2001
Years of data
18
2001–2018

Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in European Union (28 countries), 2001–2018

051015202001200920182001: 17 Hours per week2002: 17 Hours per week2003: 18 Hours per week2004: 18 Hours per week2005: 20 Hours per week2006: 21 Hours per week2007: 21 Hours per week2008: 21 Hours per week2009: 19 Hours per week2010: 18 Hours per week2011: 18 Hours per week2012: 18 Hours per week2013: 19 Hours per week2014: 19 Hours per week2015: 19 Hours per week2016: 19 Hours per week2017: 19 Hours per week2018: 18 Hours per week

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week.

Analysis

The most recent figure for hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in European Union (28 countries) is 18 Hours per week, measured in 2018.

That represents a change of down 5.3% on the previous year and down 14.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in European Union (28 countries) peaked at 21 Hours per week in 2006 and was at its lowest, 17 Hours per week, in 2001.

Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in European Union (28 countries), year by year

Annual values for Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to escape poverty for a jobless family claiming minimum income benefits in European Union (28 countries), 2001 to 2018.
Year Hours per week Change
2001 17 Hours per week
2002 17 Hours per week +0.0%
2003 18 Hours per week +5.9%
2004 18 Hours per week +0.0%
2005 20 Hours per week +11.1%
2006 21 Hours per week +5.0%
2007 21 Hours per week +0.0%
2008 21 Hours per week +0.0%
2009 19 Hours per week -9.5%
2010 18 Hours per week -5.3%
2011 18 Hours per week +0.0%
2012 18 Hours per week +0.0%
2013 19 Hours per week +5.6%
2014 19 Hours per week +0.0%
2015 19 Hours per week +0.0%
2016 19 Hours per week +0.0%
2017 19 Hours per week +0.0%
2018 18 Hours per week -5.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 19.11 Hours per week 17 Hours per week 21 Hours per week 9
2010s 18.56 Hours per week 18 Hours per week 19 Hours per week 9

Countries ranked near European Union (28 countries)

  1. 3 Cyprus 25 Hours per week compare
  2. 3 Latvia 24 Hours per week compare
  3. 4 Poland 22 Hours per week compare
  4. 4 United States of America 24 Hours per week compare
  5. 4 Malta 24 Hours per week compare
  6. 4 Norway 24 Hours per week compare
  7. 4 Sweden 24 Hours per week compare
  8. 5 Lithuania 19 Hours per week compare
  9. 6 Netherlands 18 Hours per week compare
  10. 8 Türkiye 8 Hours per week compare
  11. 8 Austria 23 Hours per week compare
  12. 9 Spain 21 Hours per week compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More economy & growth data for European Union (28 countries)

All data for European Union (28 countries) →

Frequently asked questions

What is hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in European Union (28 countries)?
Hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to in European Union (28 countries) was 18 Hours per week in 2018, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to recorded in European Union (28 countries)?
The highest recorded value was 21 Hours per week in 2006.
What is the lowest hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to recorded in European Union (28 countries)?
The lowest recorded value was 17 Hours per week in 2001.
How does European Union (28 countries) rank for hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to?
European Union (28 countries) ranks 6th out of 8 groups with data for 2018.
Is hours of work needed to escape poverty — working hours needed to rising or falling in European Union (28 countries)?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this European Union (28 countries) data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to escape poverty for a jobless family claiming minimum income benefits. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to in European Union (28 countries). Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/hours-of-work-needed-to-escape-poverty-working-hours-needed-to-escape-poverty-for-a/european-union-28-countries/

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About this data

Indicator
Hours of work needed to escape poverty — Working hours needed to escape poverty for a jobless family claiming minimum income benefits
Unit
Hours per week
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
42 places, 952 data points, 2001–2025
Last refreshed

This indicator measures the working hours needed to escape poverty for a jobless family claiming minimum income benefits. Calculations for families with children assume 2 children aged 4 and 6 who do not use formal childcare.