As Germans return from summer holidays, a concerning trend emerges: declining work hours. Among the 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member economies, Germany ranks last in annual working hours.

The average German works 1,331 hours annually, significantly less than some southern European countries previously perceived as less industrious. OECD data reveals that Greeks worked an average of 1,898 hours in 2024, Portuguese 1,716 hours, and Italians 1,709 hours.

Beyond working hours, Germany's economy lags behind its neighbors. Last week, unemployment exceeded 3 million for the first time in 10 years, steadily rising despite remaining below the European average.

Passengers wait for a bus in Munich, Bavaria, Germany on 10/8. Photo: AFP

Passengers wait for a bus in Munich, Bavaria, Germany on 10/8. Photo: AFP

Carsten Brzeski, chief economist at ING Germany, notes Germany's economy has contracted over the past two years, shrinking from its 2019 size. Meanwhile, Spain and Greece experienced over 2% growth last year.

"Spain is growing very fast. Greece too. Countries we once considered laggards now demonstrate high work efficiency, while we have poor growth," stated Steffen Kampeter, chief executive of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations and former member of parliament.

Besides extended holidays, German workers enjoy 20 paid vacation days plus public holidays. They also average 19 sick days annually, according to Techniker Krankenkasse, Germany's largest health insurer. This figure, up from 16 days pre-pandemic, suggests a cultural shift rather than health issues.

"I see no valid reason why Germans should be significantly less healthy than other high-income countries," commented Jonas Jessen, a researcher at the Berlin Social Science Center.

This issue sparked debate last month when German media reported a vocational school teacher in North Rhine-Westphalia on fully paid sick leave since 2009.

"This cannot continue. Change is necessary. Part-time work cannot become the norm for the German economy," declared Michael Kretschmer, Saxony's minister-president and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) vice chairman.

Kretschmer highlighted Saxony's nursing and healthcare sectors, severely impacted by reduced working hours accompanying pay raises. "We must lead in working hours, not lag behind," he emphasized.

While 27-year-old law student Christopher Sitzmann believes "life isn't just about work," Kampeter argues Germany's work-life balance leans excessively toward "life."

"They seem to misunderstand that a good life requires work," he stated.

Faeze Haddadi, 34, relocated from Iran to Berlin four years ago, anticipating a demanding work environment. "We expected to work harder, longer hours, but found a lack of pressure to work," she said.

Experts attribute Germany's reduced working hours not to laziness but factors hindering full-time employment, especially for women.

48% of employed German women worked part-time in 2023, compared to 10% of men, according to European Union data. For mothers, this figure exceeds 65%.

Many German schools and childcare centers close early afternoons, making full-time work difficult for parents. Jessen adds that German culture places greater childcare responsibility on women.

Visitors at Museum Island in Berlin on 20/7. Photo: AFP

Visitors at Museum Island in Berlin on 20/7. Photo: AFP

German experts offer varying solutions to encourage longer working hours. However, they agree on improving childcare access, particularly extending operating hours. Business leaders like Kampeter also advocate for reduced bureaucracy and increased immigration.

Jessen suggests simple technical adjustments, like switching from joint to individual tax filing for couples, allowing mothers to work longer hours with lower taxes. A study indicates individual filing could increase Germany's labor supply by the equivalent of half a million full-time jobs. However, Jessen acknowledges the political difficulty of such a change, viewed as "lacking family support."

While the German government's approach remains unclear, many businesses are embracing "working less."

Last year, 45 German companies piloted a 4-day workweek for six months, offering full pay for fewer hours. Results were positive, with increased hourly productivity and employee satisfaction. Most participating companies plan to continue the model.

However, in his inaugural address last May, Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared, "We must work more and more efficiently," cautioning against reduced workweeks.

"A 4-day workweek for work-life balance won't sustain our prosperity," he stated.

Thanh Tam (According to Washington Post, Fortune)