Which group puts in more effort between the French and Germans?
In the ongoing debates surrounding France's 2026 Budget, a controversial statement was made by the country's public accounts minister, claiming that France works 100 hours less per person than Germany. However, a closer examination of the data reveals a more nuanced picture.
During the budget debates, the minister presented data that included the total hours worked by the entire population, including children, pensioners, the unemployed, and those not in the workforce. This broad approach, while comprehensive, can be misleading when comparing workforce productivity between countries.
According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), France worked an average of 666 hours per capita in 2024, compared to 724 hours in Germany. However, this figure does not tell the whole story. The OECD Employment Outlook 2025 reveals that hours worked per capita and average usual weekly working hours have been declining in most OECD countries, including Germany, since before the COVID-19 crisis.
Germany's average work hours per worker are relatively low compared to some other countries, with average annual hours worked per worker below 1,400 hours, indicating a comparatively moderate level of hours worked. Factors influencing hours worked include shifts in worker preferences for part-time jobs, regulatory changes, and compositional effects, with part-time employment playing a significant role in Europe’s trend towards fewer hours.
Moreover, Germany also has a relatively high employment rate for older workers (60-64 years), but this does not directly translate to longer working hours compared to countries like France. France has a higher birth-rate compared to Germany, resulting in more children not in the workforce, which contributes to the lower average hours worked per capita in France.
The number of hours worked in France has been rising since the mid-1990s, contrasting with a broader European trend. On average, French workers work 35.8 hours per week, while Germans work 33.9 hours per week (including full-time and part-time workers). However, when considering work hours divided by the total workforce, the picture becomes more complex. The OECD provides more nuanced data that considers work hours per workforce, providing a more accurate measure of worker productivity.
In summary, the OECD data from 2024 does not support a straightforward claim that Germans work more hours than French workers; instead, the picture is nuanced, reflecting broader labor market trends, workforce composition, and worker preferences in each country. This nuanced perspective is essential when discussing workforce productivity and comparing countries' economies.
The debate surrounding France's work ethic has been a hot topic, with France's prime minister recently criticising the country's work ethic. One of the proposed measures to address France's budget deficit, amounting to €40 billion, is to axe two public holidays. Under this nuanced measure, French workers would work more hours per year compared to Germans, with French workers working 1,494 hours per year and Germans working 1,340 hours per year.
The Conseil d'analyse économique published a study on the total number of working hours over time, comparing France, Germany, the UK, and the USA. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the complexities of comparing work hours across countries and the need for a more nuanced approach when discussing workforce productivity.
- The controversy in France's 2026 Budget debates was fueled by the public accounts minister's statement that France works less than Germany, but a closer examination of OECD data suggests a more nuanced picture.
- In the OECD Employment Outlook 2025, it was revealed that hours worked per capita and average usual weekly working hours have been declining in most OECD countries, including Germany, since before the COVID-19 crisis.
- The Conseil d'analyse économique published a study comparing the total number of working hours over time across France, Germany, the UK, and the USA, emphasizing the importance of adopting a more nuanced approach when discussing workforce productivity.
