Working on weekends in Europe: How many Europeans work on Saturdays and Sundays

The European labor market is characterized by significant contrasts in approaches to work schedules: in some countries, nearly half of the workforce works on Saturdays and Sundays, while in others, this figure barely reaches a few percent. The gap varies by region, type of employment, and industry. Learn more about how many Europeans work on weekends and how the continent is moving toward a shorter workweek

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The labor market in Europe continues to show significant differences between countries, including, among other things, the number of workers who work on weekends. According to Eurostat data cited by Euronews, on average, 21.3% of the continent’s workforce regularly works on Saturdays or Sundays. However, this overall figure masks striking contrasts between regions, occupational categories, and sectors.

Who exactly most often sacrifices their weekends, in which countries this practice is most widespread, and where it is almost nonexistent, as well as how Europe is moving toward a shorter workweek—we cover all this in the article below.

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Self-employed and salaried workers: who works on weekends more often?

One of the key factors determining the likelihood of working on weekends is the type of employment. Eurostat statistics clearly show a gap between the self-employed and salaried employees: 46% of entrepreneurs and the self-employed go to work on Saturday or Sunday, while among salaried employees, this figure stands at 18.5%. The difference is explained by the fact that business owners and freelancers often do not have a fixed schedule and depend on client needs or seasonal workload.

Among the self-employed, Greece leads the way, with 75% of entrepreneurs working on weekends. Next are Belgium with 66% and France with 60%. In the category of exclusively salaried employees (excluding the self-employed), the top three are slightly different: Greece, Cyprus, and North Macedonia have rates exceeding 30%. They are followed by Switzerland and Malta—at approximately 29%.

In our previous article, we explained why digitizing employment records in the EU by June 10, 2026 is essential for Ukrainians.

European countries with the highest rates of weekend work

The geographical distribution of weekend work has distinct regional characteristics. Balkan and Mediterranean countries show significantly higher rates compared to the European average. Greece is the clear leader: here, 41% of all employed people (including the self-employed) regularly work on weekends. In second place is Bosnia and Herzegovina with 33%, followed by Malta, Cyprus, and North Macedonia, where the rate reaches 32%.

Infographic: Euronews

These figures are largely linked to the structure of these countries’ economies: a high share of the service sector, tourism, agriculture, and small businesses—all sectors where working on weekends is common practice. Additionally, these regions traditionally have a higher proportion of self-employed workers, which further increases the overall figure.

Read also about the cost of an hour of labor in 2026 in Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S..

Where in Europe do people work the least on weekends?

At the opposite end of the spectrum are the Baltic and Central European countries, where working on Saturdays and Sundays is the exception rather than the norm. The lowest rate is recorded in Lithuania—only 4% of workers go to work on weekends. In Hungary, this figure stands at 7%, and in Poland—7.5%.

The lower rates in these countries are partly explained by stricter labor laws that limit weekend work for employees, as well as a different employment structure with a larger share of the industrial sector, where schedules are strictly regulated. In addition, countries in Northern and Eastern Europe generally show a tendency toward a better work-life balance.

Where in the EU do they pay the most? — read about it in this article.

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Sectors where weekend work is most common

The industry is another significant factor. According to Eurostat, the largest number of employees who work on Saturdays and Sundays are concentrated in the following sectors:

• services and trade — 47.6%;
• agriculture, forestry, and fishing — 47.2%;
• so-called elementary occupations (routine physical labor) — 25.7%.

The first two categories have virtually the same level of weekend work, which is due to the continuous nature of these industries. Retail chains, restaurants, hotels, and farms—all these businesses serve customers seven days a week, so they need staff on both Saturdays and Sundays. Elementary occupations, at 25.7%, also significantly exceed the European average, as many of these jobs involve infrastructure maintenance and cleaning, which do not stop on weekends.

About the EU labor market and which professions and countries lead in the number of job openings — read here.

The four-day workweek in Europe: pilot projects

Alongside the debate on weekend work, Europe is actively moving toward reducing the workweek. One of the most recent examples is Poland, which launched a pilot project in the summer of 2025 to reduce the workweek from 39 to 35 hours without a loss of pay. Participants in the experiment could choose one of three formats:

1. A 6-hour workday.
2. A three-day weekend.
3. Additional vacation days.

About 5,000 employees from 90 public and private institutions took part in the experiment. Each participating organization received up to 210,000 euros in compensation to cover costs associated with rescheduling. The results of the pilot project are scheduled to be evaluated in 2027. Similar four-day workweek programs have previously been tested in the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, Iceland, France, and Spain, indicating a consistent pan-European trend toward rethinking traditional work models.

Are you planning to work in one of the European countries and want to understand the specifics of local labor laws?

The experts at the Visit Ukraine portal will help you understand your rights, working conditions, and the nuances of the hiring process—schedule a consultation with a labor lawyer and get answers to all your questions.

Reminder! The European Union is introducing new salary transparency rules that will change the approach to compensation. Read more about the new EU salary rules for 2026 at the link.

Photo: Magnific

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