Belgians Work Least Hours in Europe But Remain Among Most Productive

Belgian employees clock the fewest working hours annually in Europe, yet maintain high levels of prosperity, thanks to impressive productivity.

That’s the key takeaway from new research published by the German Institute for Economic Research, revealing that Belgians aged between 15 and 64 work just 1,021 hours per year on average.

The figure places Belgium at the bottom of the European ranking. For comparison, workers in the Netherlands and Germany average 1,341 and 1,341 hours respectively, while in the United States, the annual work average stands at 1,810 hours.

But why do Belgians work so little, and is it sustainable?

Experts point to a number of structural and cultural factors. “One part of the explanation is the relatively low employment rate,” said Bart Van Craeynest, chief economist at Flemish employers’ organisation Voka.

“At 72.3%, Belgium’s employment rate lags behind countries like the Netherlands (83.5%), Germany (81.3%) and France (75.1%).”

The situation is particularly acute in French-speaking regions. “Brussels and Wallonia have some of the lowest employment rates in Europe. Flanders performs better, but only meets the European average,” Van Craeynest explained.

Other factors contributing to Belgium’s low work hours include high part-time employment, generous holiday allowances, and a relatively early retirement age.

“The actual retirement age in Belgium is around 61—one of the lowest in the industrialised world,” Van Craeynest said. “Despite government attempts to raise it, there has been significant resistance.”

Nevertheless, Belgians are far from slackers. According to productivity measures, they remain among the most efficient workers in Europe, trailing only Ireland and Luxembourg. That productivity compensates for shorter work hours and sustains the country’s economic strength.

“Belgium’s high labour costs pushed companies to invest early in automation and machinery. This has paid off in the form of high productivity,” Van Craeynest noted.

Furthermore, 8.8% of Belgians work more than 49 hours per week—among the highest rates in Europe. The result is a workforce that earns relatively high wages, enabling them to choose part-time work or enjoy extended holidays without sacrificing income.

For Hans Bevers, chief economist at Degroof Petercam bank, the low number of hours is not a concern. “We shouldn’t view this issue solely through an economic lens. Prosperous societies naturally shift focus to quality of life. Economic growth is not an end in itself.”

However, if Belgium wants to maintain its welfare state, future growth will need to come from productivity, Bevers cautioned. That will require renewed public investment in infrastructure, education, and innovation.

Belgium already invests heavily in research and development—€19.8 billion in 2023, or 3.32% of GDP, among the highest in Europe. But Van Craeynest warns that productivity growth has stagnated in recent decades.

“To remain competitive, we need to reignite productivity growth and bring more people into the workforce,” he said. “That’s the real challenge.”