My time matters

TIME

MATTERS

We have a problem
with time.

Together, cities and
citizens are solving it.

#MyTimeMatters

EU KEY
FINDINGS

Historically, Europe has positioned itself as a global benchmark for social welfare.

Recently, this commitment has translated into work-life balance policies, achieving significant milestones. For instance, according to Eurofound, the gender gap in unpaid childcare and household work has declined by 27% (approximately 1 h) in two decades.

But despite these advances, a deeper imbalance remains, affecting Europe’s competitiveness, equality,
democracy, health, and social cohesion. The following indicators reveal a pressing issue: Europe has a
problem with time, and addressing it is now urgent.

We are moving in the right direction, but we still have a problem with time.

#MyTimeMatters for Work, Care and Life

#MyTimeMatters for Health and Well-being

#MyTimeMatters for Leisure and Democracy

COUNTRY
COMPARISON

Across Europe, people share a common problem with time. But this challenge doesn’t look the same everywhere — each country has its own particularities.

For the first time, we present a clear and comprehensive picture of the main time-related issues across nine EU countries — which are all part of the Time4All 2.0 project — using the latest official European data.

The results show how time shapes daily life across Europe — and how experiences differ across borders and gender lines.

Time Use Indicators · timeuse.barcelona

European Time Use Indicators

EU Key Findings

45% of Europeans struggle to balance work and life. Population that experiences difficulties in combining paid work and housework responsibilities (%)

45% EU-27 Median

Total Female Male EU-27 Median · 45.0%

Notes

Calculations are based on microdata from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)'s 2022 Survey of gender gaps in unpaid care, individual and social activities. The survey was carried out in all 27 EU Member States with a total sample size of more than 60,000 respondents aged 16–74.

The data indicates the percentage (%) of respondents, both employed and involved in housework, who reported the following frequencies of difficulty in combining paid work with housework responsibilities: every day; 4 to 6 days a week; 1 to 3 days a week.

Source: European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

Only 22% of European workers enjoy flexible hours; the vast majority still struggle with rigid schedules. Workers that can adapt working hours within certain limits (e.g. flexitime) (%)

22.3% EU-28 Median

Total Female Male EU-28 Median · 22.3%

Notes

Calculations are based on microdata from the 2024 European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), coordinated by Eurofound. The survey is designed to represent the total population of employed individuals aged 15 or older.

Data on working time arrangements is drawn from the 2024 EWCS Integrated Data File. The analysis focuses on responses to the question "How are your working time arrangements set?", highlighting individuals who reported they can adapt their working hours within certain limits (e.g. flexitime).

Source: Eurofound

61% of the European working-age population spends around 240 h a year commuting. Population spending around 240 hours a year commuting (%)

61.2% EU-27 Median

Total Female Male EU-27 Median · 61.2%

Notes

The data is derived from the 2024 EWCS Integrated Data File, specifically addressing the question: "In total, how many minutes per day do you usually spend travelling from home to work and back?"

The results represent the aggregate percentage of respondents who reported a total daily commute of 30–59 minutes and 1–2 hours.

Source: Eurofound

2 h more per day: the persistent gender gap in unpaid childcare and domestic work in Europe. Gender gap in the average daily hours spent on unpaid childcare and domestic work (hh:mm)

1h 59m EU-28 Gender Gap

Gender gap (Women − Men) EU-28 gap · 1h 59m

Notes

These are preliminary calculations based on microdata from the 2024 European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), coordinated by Eurofound. The survey is designed to represent the total population of employed individuals aged 15 or older.

Care work data refers specifically to childcare activities. The questions considered are "On average, how many hours per day do you spend on caring for and/or educating your children, grandchildren?" and "On average, how many hours per day do you spend on cooking and housework?" from the 2024 EWCS Integrated Data File.

Source: Eurofound

35% of Europeans struggle with sleep deprivation, and most working-age adults sleep less than 8 h. Daily sleep hours (hh:mm) — full-time employed adults aged 30–50 with dependent children, working weekdays

<8h All countries

Total Female Male 8h reference

Notes

Data has been sourced from the most recent surveys in the Multinational Time Use Study (MTUS) by the Centre for Time Use Research (CTUR). The analysis focuses on a specific demographic: full-time employed adults aged 30 to 50 with dependent children. Time-use responses are restricted to working weekdays only.

Data for each country corresponds to the following years: Germany (2012), Bulgaria (2001), Belgium (2013), France (2009), Spain (2009), Greece (2013), Italy (2008), and Poland (2003). The European figure represents the average sleep hours across these countries and years. No data available for Portugal. The data regarding the population that struggles with sleep (35%) is from the STADA Health Report 2022.

Source: Centre for Time Use Research (CTUR)

77% of Europeans work at a fast pace and under tight deadlines, fuelling time pressure and burnout. Population working to tight deadlines and at a very high speed (%)

76.5% EU-28 Median

Total Female Male EU-28 Median · 76.5%

Notes

Calculations are based on microdata from the 2021 European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), coordinated by Eurofound. The survey is designed to represent the total population of employed individuals aged 15 and older.

The results represent the aggregate percentage of respondents who reported "Sometimes," "Often," or "Always" encountering high-speed work and tight deadlines.

Source: Eurofound

84% of Europeans support ending the biannual clock change. Population in favour of putting an end to bi-annual clock change (%)

84% EU-28 Median

Total EU-28 Median · 84%

Notes

Calculations are based on the European Commission's Summertime Consultation on clock change in Europe. This online consultation, which ran from 4 July to 16 August 2018, received 4.6 million responses from all 28 Member States — the highest participation rate in the history of Commission consultations.

Findings represent the aggregate percentage of respondents who selected the "to abolish" alternative in response to the question: "Which of the following alternatives would you favour?"

Source: European Commission

16% of Europeans cannot take part in democratic or civic life simply because they don't have the time. Population not participating in active citizenship due to a lack of time (%)

16% EU-27 Median

Total Female Male EU-27 Median · 16.0%

Notes

Calculations are based on 2022 microdata from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). Conducted across all 27 EU Member States, the survey results represent the population aged 20 to 64.

The analysis uses the indicator "Persons not participating in active citizenship by sex, age, educational attainment level, and reasons." The EU-wide data is estimated by Eurostat. Data for Germany is unavailable.

Source: Eurostat

54% of European teenagers devote around 6 hours daily to leisure screen time. Teenagers devoting around 6 hours daily to leisure screen time (%)

53.6% EU-26 Average

Total EU-26 Average · 53.6%

Notes

Calculations are based on microdata from PISA 2022 (Volume II), adapted from OECD (2023). The study focuses on 15-year-olds.

The indicator measures the percentage of students using digital devices for leisure purposes. The results represent the aggregate percentage of respondents who reported: "more than 20 hours and up to 40 hours of weekly use", and "more than 40 hours and up to 60 hours of weekly use".

Source: OECD PISA

59% of Europeans have worked during their free time to meet job demands. Population working in their free time to meet work demands (%)

59% EU-28 Median

Total Female Male EU-28 Median · 59%

Notes

Calculations are based on microdata from the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), coordinated by Eurofound. The survey aims to represent the population of all employed persons aged 15 or older.

The results represent the total percentage of respondents who reported working in their free time to meet job demands at least once, according to the 2021 European Working Conditions Survey (7th round).

Source: Eurofound

COUNTRY
INSIGHTS

Explore Your Country's Time Profile.

Your time is shaped by where you live and who you are.

Choose a country to reveal its time profile, comparing it to the European average and examining gender differences.

In doing so, you will discover the most persistent time problems in each country, and where urgent action is required to ensure time equality and well-being for all.

Spain

Time in Spain vs. EU

This table compares Spain's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, similar, or worse.

Better	Similar	Worse
Commuting	Sleeping hours	Work-life balance
Civic participation	Unpaid work	Time flexibility
Screen time	Burnout	—
Biannual Clock-change*	Overtime	—

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In Spain, there is more citizen support for ending the biannual clock-change.

Spain's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in Spain, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Commuting	Overtime
Time flexibility	Sleeping hours	—
Unpaid work	Civic participation	—
—	Burnout	—

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

Italy

Time in Italy vs. EU

This table compares Italy's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, worse, or similar.

Better	Similar	Worse
Commuting	Civic participation	Work-life balance
Sleeping hours	Burnout	Time flexibility
—	Screen time	Unpaid work
—	—	Overtime
—	—	Biannual Clock-change*

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In Italy, there is less citizen support for ending the biannual clock-change.

Italy's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in Italy, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Burnout	Time flexibility
Unpaid work	—	Commuting
—	—	Sleeping hours
—	—	Civic participation
—	—	Overtime

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

Bulgaria

Time in Bulgaria vs. EU

This table compares Bulgaria's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, worse, or similar.

Better	Similar	Worse
Sleeping hours	Commuting	Work-life balance
Civic participation	Screen time	Time flexibility
Burnout	Overtime	Unpaid work
—	Biannual Clock-change*	—

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In Bulgaria there is similar citizen support for ending the biannual clock-change.

Bulgaria's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in Bulgaria, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Time flexibility	Overtime
Unpaid work	Commuting	—
Burnout	Sleeping hours	—
—	Civic participation	—

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

Belgium

Time in Belgium vs. EU

This table compares Belgium's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, worse, or similar.

Better	Similar	Worse
Time flexibility	Work-life balance	Overtime
Civic participation	Commuting	—
Unpaid work	Sleeping hours	—
—	Burnout	—
—	Screen time	—
—	Biannual Clock-change*	—

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In Belgium there is similar citizen support for ending the biannual clock-change.

Belgium's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in Belgium, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Civic participation	Time flexibility
Unpaid work	Burnout	Commuting
—	Overtime	Sleeping hours

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

Greece

Time in Greece vs. EU

This table compares Greece's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, worse, or similar.

Better	Similar	Worse
Commuting	Screen time	Work-life balance
Sleeping hours	—	Time flexibility
Civic participation	—	Unpaid work
—	—	Burnout
—	—	Overtime
—	—	Biannual Clock-change*

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In Greece there is less citizen support for ending the time change.

Greece's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in Greece, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Time flexibility	Civic participation
Commuting	Sleeping hours	Overtime
Unpaid work	Burnout	—

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

Germany

Time in Germany vs. EU

This table compares Germany's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, worse, or similar.

Better	Similar	Worse
Work-life balance	Burnout	Commuting
Time flexibility	Overtime	Sleeping hours
Unpaid work	Biannual Clock-change*	Screen time

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In Germany there is similar citizen support for ending the biannual clock-change.

Germany's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in Germany, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Commuting	Sleeping hours
Time flexibility	Burnout	—
Unpaid work	Overtime	—

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

France

Time in France vs. EU

This table compares France's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, worse, or similar.

Better	Similar	Worse
Unpaid work	Work-life balance	Commuting
Sleeping hours	Time flexibility	Civic participation
Screen time	Burnout	Overtime
—	Biannual Clock-change*	—

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In France there is similar citizen support for ending the biannual clock-change.

France's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in France, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Time flexibility	Sleeping hours
Unpaid work	Commuting	Burnout
Civic participation	—	—
Overtime	—	—

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

Poland

Time in Poland vs. EU

This table compares Poland's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, worse, or similar.

Better	Similar	Worse
Biannual Clock-change*	Work-life balance	Time flexibility
—	Commuting	Sleeping hours
—	Unpaid work	Civic participation
—	Burnout	Screen time
—	—	Overtime

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In Poland there is more citizen support for ending the biannual clock-change.

Poland's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in Poland, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Burnout	Commuting
Time flexibility	—	Sleeping hours
Unpaid work	—	Civic participation
—	—	Overtime

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

Portugal

Time in Portugal vs. EU

This table compares Portugal's time indicators in relation to the EU average, identifying where results are better, worse, or similar.

Better	Similar	Worse
Commuting	Screen time	Work-life balance
Burnout	Biannual Clock-change*	Time flexibility
—	—	Unpaid work
—	—	Civic participation
—	—	Overtime

Countries within ±0.5 standard deviations of the EU average were classified as similar. *In Portugal there is similar citizen support for ending the biannual clock-change.

Portugal's Gender Time Gap

This table examines gender disparities in Portugal, identifying where women or men are better off compared to the other gender, and where results are similar.

Men Better	Similar	Women Better
Work-life balance	Burnout	Commuting
Time flexibility	Overtime	—
Civic participation	—	—
Unpaid work	—	—

Countries with gender gaps within ±0.5 standard deviations from zero, based on the distribution of gender gaps across countries, were classified as showing similar outcomes between women and men.

Explore Your Country's 24-Hour Clock.

Germany

TIME
SOLUTIONS

Reversing time malaise requires structural change and a shared commitment to transform how we organise and distribute time. This transformation is gradual and complex, as it depends on social, cultural and work-related habits that cannot be changed overnight or in isolation. But the absence of quick fixes does not mean there are no solutions.

As a society, we already have public policies that can help reverse time malaise: time policies. The question is no longer whether we should act, but which time policies we should implement to redesign our cities, reshape daily life and achieve a better balance of time. Below are examples of inspirational and innovative time policies already being implemented.

TO END TIME MALAISE, EUROPE NEEDS CROSS-CUTTING AND SECTOR-SPECIFIC TIME POLICIES.

To achieve structural change and improve time organisation, the following 3 cross-cutting time policies are essential:

A citywide commitment to better time organisation, such as the Barcelona Time Agreement promoted by the Barcelona City Council.
The implementation of a Local Time Organisation Plan, such as the model developed by the Barcelona Provincial Council.
The appointment of a Time Chief Officer, responsible for the transversal coordination, development and evaluation of municipal time policies.

The following sections present sector-specific time policies designed to respond to the 10 time-related challenges identified above.