Working more, earning less

03 June 2025

It's time to debunk the "lazy Greek" stereotype: a new Eurostat survey shows that Greeks work the most in Europe, yet earn among the lowest wages and have the least purchasing power in the EU.

In 2024, Greeks worked an average of 39.8 hours per week, the highest in the EU, compared to the average of 36. For instance, an average Dutch worker earns €44,000 annually for a 32-hour work week, while a Greek worker earns just €18,000 for nearly 40 hours. Add second jobs and undeclared labour, and the real work week stretches past 46 hours.

Unsurprisingly, 61% of Greek workers say their job harms their physical and mental health. Another 64% report that work-related stress negatively affects their personal life, and nearly half say they struggle to manage it.

And yet, while other European countries move toward four-day weeks and asynchronous working models, Greece recently introduced a six-day week for businesses providing round-the-clock services, not for balance, but to plug labour gaps.

Although the policy is still in its early stages and its full impact remains unclear, the fact that it is being gradually implemented indicates the direction the Greek labour market may be headed.

For most Greeks, work isn't just full-time – it's full-life. Research and four-day week pilots across European countries show that better conditions and fewer hours – not more – lead to higher productivity.

Greece supports that argument, ranking among the lowest in productivity – not due to laziness, but because of outdated systems and equipment, poor working conditions, and a lack of technology and innovation to simplify tasks. You can't automate burnout, but Greece is trying to outwork it anyway.