Average Hours Worked Per Week By U.S. Employees | Sep '24

The average hours worked per week fluctuates with the economy. Learn how working hours affect workers and their employers in the U.S.

Sarah Edwards

Contributor

Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.

Editor

August 27, 2024 Read in 3 mins

Data

Average Work Hours Per Week in U.S., 2006-2024

www.consumershield.com

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*Data are for all employees, all private, seasonally adjusted.
*The 2024 data is available through July.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Research

How Many Hours Does the Average Person Work a Week?
What Do These Changes Indicate?
The Effect of Average Hours Worked per Week on the Economy
Learn More From ConsumerShield

Summary

The average hours worked per week in the U.S. fluctuate slightly

Changes in working hours reflect economic conditions and worker priorities

Working hours also affect pay, with over half of Americans paid hourly

How Many Hours Does the Average Person Work a Week?

The length of the average American’s workweek has remained relatively stable, with subtle changes that reflect the broader economy as well as changing worker priorities. Comparing 2006 to 2024, U.S. employees’ average work hours per week varied slightly but remained between 33.9 and 34.8.

Between those two endpoints, you can see where economic changes during the Great Recession of 2008 caused a dip in work hours in 2009. You can also see a spike in 2021 as the country hit the third peak of COVID-19 deaths.

This spike might have resulted from a unique employment situation. Unemployment remained above 5% until September 2021. However, vaccines had been approved in late 2020, and many people returned to reopened workplaces after receiving one in 2021.

Additionally, essential workers, like nurses and paramedics, were still working more hours than normal, and many workplaces had finally transitioned fully to remote work. Thus, fewer people may have been in the workforce, but those who remained were working more hours than usual.

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What Do These Changes Indicate?

This marginal reduction might seem insignificant at first glance, but it could indicate several underlying factors in the workforce. Some of these are driven by employers. For example, many businesses choose to reduce workers’ hours rather than laying them off during economic slowdowns.

Similarly, many businesses cap work hours to avoid providing benefits like health insurance. As a result, many workers must devote a large percentage of their income to buying health insurance. Shorter working hours also save businesses money on wages since over 55% of American workers earn an hourly wage.

However, some of this reduction in the average hours worked per week may result from deliberate choices by workers. Many employees prioritize work-life balance and flexible work arrangements over longer working hours.

The Effect of Average Hours Worked per Week on the Economy

Understanding why many employees remain below full-time employment can help economists and policymakers craft solutions to persistent problems like home affordability and healthcare for people without health insurance.

At the same time, the U.S. has a long history of laissez-faire economics in which companies have had a free hand in setting employment policies. Using laws to control working hours would meet resistance across the political spectrum.

Thus, American policymakers will likely need to develop market-based solutions to these economic issues without mandating working hours for employees.

Learn More From ConsumerShield

Changes in the average work hours per week have been subtle and likely result from choices made by workers and their employers.

However, these numbers have broad implications for the American economy. The number of uninsured Americans, homeownership rates, and even the health insurance deductible Americans can afford depend on their earnings.

ConsumerShield is dedicated to helping people understand their legal rights, including the right to employer-provided health insurance and other benefits for full-time work. Contact us for a free case evaluation.