Cyprus records some of the highest levels of physical and emotional exhaustion among workers in Europe, according to new findings from the 2024 European Working Conditions Survey.
The study, conducted by Eurofound, highlights growing pressure on workers despite strong employment figures across the European Union.
Record employment, rising pressure
Across the EU, employment reached a historic high in 2024, with 207.8 million adults in work, including 200.7 million of working age. The unemployment rate fell to 5.8%, the lowest level in a generation, while the employment rate climbed to 75.8%, approaching the EU’s 2030 target.
This growth comes despite a shrinking working-age population, which declined by around nine million people between 2009 and 2024. Demographic pressures are expected to intensify in the coming decades.
Working patterns and intensity
The dominant work pattern remains a 35 to 40-hour week across five days, covering just over half of EU workers. Average working hours have gradually declined, though long working weeks persist in several countries.
Cyprus stands out in this regard, with 21% of workers reporting six or seven working days per week. Higher figures are recorded only in countries such as Croatia, Italy and Greece.
Around 5% of EU workers report having a second job, primarily to supplement income or cover basic needs, though this share has declined compared to 2015.
Cyprus leads in physical exhaustion
The survey finds that nearly 44% of workers in Cyprus say they feel physically exhausted always or most of the time due to their job, the highest rate among all countries surveyed. By contrast, the lowest levels are recorded in the Netherlands at just 18%.
Across the EU as a whole, 28% of workers report frequent physical exhaustion, with women more likely than men to experience it.
Higher levels of physical strain are observed in sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, where demanding conditions and long hours are more common.
Emotional strain also evident
Emotional exhaustion is less widespread but still significant. Across the EU, 13% of workers report feeling emotionally drained always or most of the time.
Women again report higher levels than men, pointing to persistent inequalities in working conditions and pressures across sectors.
A broader picture of job quality
The survey evaluates working life across multiple dimensions, including pay, career prospects, autonomy, working time, intensity and workplace environment.
It also examines wider aspects such as work-life balance, job security and overall wellbeing, offering a comprehensive snapshot of labour conditions across 35 European countries.
The findings underline a growing contradiction: while more Europeans are in work than ever before, the quality and sustainability of that work remain uneven, with countries like Cyprus facing particularly acute challenges.
Source: CNA