Working hours have fallen sharply in recent years – shortages of workers and skilled workers as well as rising costs for the social system are putting the welfare state under massive pressure
Vienna (OTS) – In view of the worsening labor and skilled labor shortage as well as the rising costs for the welfare state, it is appropriate to think about increasing the volume of work, according to the Industrial Association (IV). Although the population is growing, the volume of work on which the financing of our prosperity and our social system relies is stagnating. In Austria, working hours per employee have already fallen sharply in recent years. In the period 2015 to 2023, this fell from 1,520 hours to an alarming 1,448 hours.
There is room for improvement in working hours
On average, people in Austria work 37.65 hours per week over the year – including part-time work, only 32.8 hours. This puts us well below the EU average. Overall, only six countries in Europe work shorter hours than in Austria. In order to maintain the existing welfare state, an increase in the overall volume of work is required. “Under these circumstances, suggestions for a further reduction in working hours are nothing more than dreams. This cannot be glossed over by class struggle rhetoric,” says the industrial association. Both will not and cannot work out. Increasing working hours to 41 hours would be a reasonable contribution for each individual – 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon – with a major overall impact on our social system. In Switzerland, for example, this is already practice, where the average weekly working hours actually worked by full-time employees is 42.7 hours.
Questions & Contact:
Industrial Association
Marlena Mayer
Press spokesperson
+43 (1) 711 35-2315
marlena.mayer@iv.at
https://iv.at/