The average US workweek stood at 34.3 hours in April 2026, near the lowest level recorded since the 2020 pandemic. This post breaks down current working hour data by industry, gender, employment status, and how the United States ranks against other countries.
Average Working Hours in US Statistics 2026 – TL;DR
- The average workweek for all private nonfarm employees was 34.3 hours in April 2026, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Mining and logging recorded the longest weekly hours at 45.7, while leisure and hospitality posted the shortest at 25.5.
- US workers averaged 1,796 annual hours in 2024, according to OECD data, down from 1,830 in 2014.
- Manufacturing workers averaged 40.1 hours per week in early 2026, with 3.0 overtime hours.
- Mexico led OECD countries at 2,207 annual hours; Germany ranked lowest at 1,343.
The data points to a flat-to-declining trend in US working hours. The weekly figure has hovered in a narrow band between 34.2 and 34.5 hours for most of the past two decades, with industry differences far wider than the year-over-year movement in the national average. If you track how people structure their remote work routines, the shrinking workweek lines up with a broader shift in how Americans organize their time.
What Is the Average Working Hours in US in 2026?
The average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls reached 34.3 hours in April 2026, up 0.1 hour from March. The figure has stayed between 34.2 and 34.3 hours through the first four months of 2026. Average weekly hours in the US have averaged 34.39 since 2006, hitting a high of 35.0 in January 2021 and a low of 33.7 in June 2009.
| Month (2025-2026) | Average Weekly Hours |
|---|---|
| December 2025 | 34.2 |
| January 2026 | 34.3 |
| February 2026 | 34.3 |
| March 2026 | 34.3 |
| April 2026 | 34.3 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Situation
Average Working Hours in US by Industry
Hours vary sharply by sector. Goods-producing industries averaged 40.1 hours per week in early 2026, while private service-providing industries averaged 33.2. Mining and logging topped all sectors at 45.7 hours. Leisure and hospitality sat at the bottom at 25.5 hours, reflecting heavy part-time staffing.
| Industry | Average Weekly Hours (Feb 2026) |
|---|---|
| Mining and logging | 45.7 |
| Utilities | 42.9 |
| Manufacturing | 40.1 |
| Construction | 39.6 |
| Wholesale trade | 39.2 |
| Information | 37.7 |
| Financial activities | 37.5 |
| Professional and business services | 36.6 |
| Education and health services | 32.6 |
| Retail trade | 30.0 |
| Leisure and hospitality | 25.5 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Table B-2
Manufacturing overtime held at 3.0 hours per week in early 2026. The gap between the highest and lowest sectors runs above 20 hours, which dwarfs the movement in the headline number. People in desk-based roles such as accounting and design typically fall in the 36 to 38 hour range tied to information and financial activities.
Average Working Hours in US by Gender and Employment Status
Full-time workers usually log 35 hours or more per week. The US counted 122.6 million full-time wage and salary workers in the third quarter of 2025. Men work longer hours than women on average, a pattern tied to higher part-time rates among women.
Hours by Gender
| Group | Average Weekly Hours (Full-Time) |
|---|---|
| Men, 16 years and over | 42.8 |
| Total, 16 years and over | 41.9 |
| Women, 16 years and over | 40.8 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey
On days worked in 2024, full-time employed people averaged 8.4 hours on weekdays and 5.6 hours on weekend days. About 87 percent of full-time workers worked on an average weekday, against 29 percent on a weekend day. For anyone weighing how to set up a home office for full-time hours, those daily figures shape the case for ergonomic equipment.
Average Working Hours in US vs Other Countries
US workers averaged 1,796 annual hours in 2024, based on OECD data. That places the US above most of Western Europe but well below Mexico and several Latin American economies. Mexico led OECD members at 2,207 annual hours; Germany recorded the fewest at 1,343.
| Country | Average Annual Hours per Worker |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 2,207 |
| Costa Rica | 2,171 |
| Chile | 1,953 |
| Greece | 1,897 |
| South Korea | 1,872 |
| Canada | 1,865 |
| United States | 1,799 |
| Germany | 1,343 |
Source: OECD, Hours Worked
The OECD member average came to 1,683 annual hours. Mexico and Costa Rica make the top of the list despite much lower GDP per capita than the US. The data shows that long hours track more closely with labor-intensive industries than with wealth.
Average Working Hours in US Over Time
US annual hours have drifted down over the past decade. Workers averaged 1,830 hours in 2014 against 1,796 in 2024, a fall of 34 hours. The weekly figure peaked at 35.0 hours in January 2021 during pandemic staffing shifts, then settled back toward 34.3.
| Year | Average Annual Hours per Worker |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,797 |
| 2020 | 1,778 |
| 2021 | 1,789 |
| 2022 | 1,790 |
| 2023 | 1,789 |
Source: Penn World Table via Federal Reserve Economic Data
The BLS links the recent decline in weekly hours to softer demand in retail trade and leisure and hospitality. Shifts in consumer behavior after the pandemic, including less in-person shopping and dining, cut hours in those sectors. The slide has revived interest in the four-day schedule and compressed workweek formats among remote teams.
FAQ
What is the average working hours per week in the US in 2026?
The average workweek for all private nonfarm employees was 34.3 hours in April 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figure has held between 34.2 and 34.3 hours through early 2026.
Which US industry has the longest working hours?
Mining and logging recorded the longest workweek at 45.7 hours in early 2026, followed by utilities at 42.9 and manufacturing at 40.1. Leisure and hospitality had the shortest at 25.5 hours.
How many hours per year do Americans work?
US workers averaged 1,796 annual hours in 2024, based on OECD data. That is down from 1,830 hours in 2014, a drop of 34 hours over the decade.
Do men work more hours than women in the US?
Yes. Full-time men averaged 42.8 weekly hours against 40.8 for women, per Current Population Survey data. Women hold a larger share of part-time jobs, which lowers their average.
How does the US compare to other countries on working hours?
The US ranks above most of Western Europe at 1,799 annual hours but below Mexico, Costa Rica, and South Korea. Mexico leads OECD members at 2,207 hours; Germany works the least at 1,343.
Sources
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t18.htm
