A study by the HR service provider Acerta has found that the average number of hours worked by Belgians that are in employment has increased compared with a decade ago. The increase is most pronounced among female workers. Women are now working the equivalent of an average of 11 days per annum more than was the case in 2014.
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Women working more than a decade ago
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Belgians with permanent contracts of employment are currently working an average of 33.5 hours per week. 1 hour and 7 minutes more than in 2014. This equates to an increase of 7 working days per annum on the figures from a decade ago.
While men are working an average of 19 minutes/week more (the equivalent) of 2 extra working days per annum), woman are currently working an average of almost 2 full hours per week more than was the case in 2014. This equates to 11 working days per annum.
Full-time employment
The increase in the average number of hours being worked by woman in Belgium is that since 2018 a large number of women have switched from working part-time to full-time employment. Since 2018 the number of women in full-time employment has increased by 30%.
Acerta’s Miet Vanhegen told VRT News that "This is linked to changing norms in society. Systems such as maternity/paternity leave and parental leave enable men and women to better share unpaid and paid work between themselves”.
The figures also show that teleworking has made it easier to combine work and family. However, female blue-collar workers are also working more hours. Ms Vanhegen says that this is good news for Belgium’s labour market and for the social security system.
While on average men are still working a little more that women, the gap is narrowing.