Which group puts in more effort - the French or the Germans?
In the ongoing debate about work culture in France and Germany, it's essential to approach the topic with nuance and not oversimplify the findings. Recent data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) offers a more intricate picture.
The OECD Employment Outlook 2025 reveals a declining trend in hours worked per capita across most OECD countries, including Germany and France. However, this trend doesn't necessarily support a categorical claim about Germans working more or harder than the French.
One key factor to consider is the increase in part-time work and shifts in worker preferences, which partly explains the decline in working hours per capita. Germany, for instance, has a high employment rate in older age groups, but this doesn't directly translate to more hours worked or "harder" work compared to France.
The OECD does not rank countries based on average hours worked per worker in its results. Instead, broad European analysis suggests that French workers often have fewer statutory working hours per week, while actual hours can vary due to factors like part-time work, overtime, and labor regulations.
Moreover, the concept of "working harder" is difficult to quantify by hours alone. Job strain and working conditions indicators, such as job demands vs. resources and mental/physical effort, show variation in European countries without a clear dominance of one country over another.
In light of the 2024 OECD data and analyses, a more nuanced perspective is appropriate. While Germans may work longer in certain demographic groups or sectors, French workers might have higher average hours in others, particularly considering part-time employment rates and labor norms in France. Therefore, the claim that Germans simply "work harder" than the French oversimplifies the realities revealed by the OECD data.
It's important to note that since the mid-1990s, the number of hours worked has been rising in France, Germany, and the UK. France, despite having a higher unemployment rate, has a higher birth-rate, meaning there are more children who are not (yet) in the workforce.
According to the OECD data, France worked an average of 666 hours per capita in 2024, compared with 724 hours in Germany. The European Union average is 776 hours of work per capita. On average, French workers work 35.8 hours per week, while Germans work 33.9 hours per week. This includes both full-time and part-time workers.
In terms of annual hours, French workers work 1,494 hours, while Germans work 1,340 hours, with both countries being below the EU average of 1,570 hours a year. These figures, provided by France's public accounts minister, De Montchalin, are based on OECD data from 2024.
Interestingly, around a quarter of the population in France is retired, and one of the measures proposed in the 2026 Budget is to axe two public holidays. The French lunch break is widely observed, and it is illegal to eat lunch while at your desk/work station according to the country's workplace code. However, this rule does not apply to those who work from home or have flexible hours.
In conclusion, a straightforward comparison by hours worked per worker is insufficient, and current OECD evidence points towards variability and trends of reduced overall hours worked rather than one country being categorically harder working than the other. A more nuanced understanding of work culture in France and Germany requires considering factors such as employment rates, part-time work, labor regulations, and job strain indicators.
In the realm of business and finance, the OECD Employment Outlook 2025 suggests a decrease in average working hours per capita across OECD countries, including France and Germany, due to an increase in part-time work and shifts in worker preferences.
With regards to the legal aspects, it's essential to understand that the OECD does not base country rankings on average hours worked per worker and that a more nuanced understanding of work culture necessitates consideration of factors such as employment rates, part-time work, labor regulations, and job strain indicators.
