Workers across Europe face significant differences in their weekly working hours, with a gap of nearly eight hours between countries at the top and bottom of the scale, according to new figures from Eurostat that highlight how labour structures, unions and economic models shape working life across the continent.

The data shows that the average working week in the European Union stands at 35.9 hours for people aged 20 to 64 in their main job. However, national averages vary widely, reflecting deep structural differences between labour markets.

At the upper end of the scale, Turkey records the longest average working week at 42.4 hours among EU candidate and EFTA countries, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina at 40.9 hours and Serbia at 40.6 hours. Within the EU itself, Greece leads with 39.6 hours, followed closely by North Macedonia at 39.5 hours and Bulgaria at 38.7 hours. These are the only countries where average working hours exceed 40 hours per week.

Experts say weaker bargaining power and lower productivity levels may contribute to longer hours in these regions. Professor David Spencer of the University of Leeds noted that workers rarely choose their hours freely, pointing instead to employer-driven norms and structural labour conditions.

Jorge Cabrita, senior research manager at Eurofound, said differences in working-time regulations and labour market systems also play a major role in shaping national averages.

At the opposite end, the Netherlands records the shortest working week in Europe at 31.9 hours. Nearly 43% of employment in the country is part-time, a far higher proportion than anywhere else in the EU, which significantly reduces the overall average.

Germany, Norway and Denmark follow with an average of 33.9 hours, while Austria, Belgium and Finland also report relatively short weeks below 35 hours. In these countries, the typical working day is under seven hours across a standard five-day week.

Among Europe’s largest economies, Germany has the shortest working week at 33.9 hours, followed by France at 35.6 hours and Italy at 36.1 hours. Spain records the longest among the four major economies at 36.3 hours. Spencer said Germany’s shorter hours reflect stronger unions and more effective collective bargaining systems.

The Eurostat figures also show clear regional patterns, with Northern and Western Europe generally working fewer hours than Central and Eastern Europe. Economists link this to differences in employment structures, union strength and sectoral composition.

Part-time work is a key factor behind shorter averages, particularly in countries like the Netherlands. By contrast, self-employed workers tend to work longer hours, often due to greater autonomy and business demands.

Sectoral differences are also significant. Skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers average 42 hours per week, while managers work 40.6 hours and armed forces personnel 39.4 hours. In contrast, workers in elementary occupations average 31.8 hours, followed by clerical and service roles at just above 34 hours.

The data underscores how working time across Europe is shaped not only by economic output but also by labour protections, industry mix and national employment traditions.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has taken a significant step toward a possible stock market listing after filing confidential preliminary paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, signalling its intent to explore becoming a publicly traded company.

The San Francisco-based artificial intelligence firm confirmed the filing on Monday, marking another milestone in its gradual transition toward public markets and placing it alongside other major technology players preparing for potential listings.

Chief executive Sam Altman had previously indicated that an initial public offering would likely be the company’s “most likely path,” citing the enormous capital requirements needed to develop advanced artificial intelligence systems at scale.

Founded in 2015 as a non-profit focused on building safe and broadly beneficial artificial intelligence, OpenAI has since evolved into a corporate structure valued at about $852 billion. Its rapid commercial expansion has been driven largely by the global adoption of ChatGPT and related AI tools.

The latest filing comes as the company navigates intensifying competition from rivals including Google and Anthropic, both of which are investing heavily in large-scale AI models. Analysts have noted that the race for computing power and infrastructure has placed significant financial pressure on leading firms in the sector.

Industry analyst Nate Elliott described the timing as challenging, noting that OpenAI faces rising competitive pressure while still requiring substantial funding to support its operations. He added that public markets may represent one of the few viable sources of capital at the scale the company needs.

OpenAI has already undergone major structural changes, including a transition to a public benefit corporation while remaining under the oversight of its non-profit parent organisation. The restructuring was widely seen as a step toward eventual public listing.

The company also recently resolved a legal dispute involving co-founder Elon Musk, who had challenged OpenAI’s shift toward a for-profit model. A federal jury dismissed the case, clearing a major legal obstacle for the company’s corporate direction.

OpenAI has not disclosed revenue figures or provided a timeline for profitability, but continues to invest heavily in data centres, research and model training. Like several leading AI firms, it remains unprofitable as it prioritises expansion in a rapidly evolving sector.

In a statement, the company said the filing was not tied to an immediate listing decision and that timing remains flexible. It noted that remaining private still offers operational advantages, although public markets could become preferable depending on future conditions.

Chief financial officer Sarah Friar has previously said the company is preparing as though it will eventually be listed, highlighting that public markets offer significantly greater access to capital compared with private funding sources.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has also outlined long-term ambitions that include developing automated AI research systems and expanding access to advanced AI capabilities globally. He said the company aims to ensure that economic gains from artificial intelligence are broadly distributed as the technology continues to advance.