The NERI seminar titled 'Exploring Working Hours Disparities in Europe' was presented by Albian Krasniqi, PhD researcher and lecturer at TU Dublin.
It took place on Wednesday 12 February 2025 at 15.30 as an online Zoom event. Please find the presentation from the seminar.
Lecture Format:
Albian Krasniqi, TU Dublin made his presentation. Subsequently, there was a Q&A section where the chairperson, NERI economist Ciarán Nugent presented questions from attendees to Albian.
Abstract:
Working hours profoundly influence workers' health, work-life balance, financial stability, and overall well-being. Since the 1990s, average working hours have decreased in most European countries. Yet, significant differences remain between Eastern and Western Europe, as well as within countries – across sectors and occupations. This study uses individual- and country-level (regional) data, applying a multilevel approach and unconditional quantile regressions, to explore the determinants of individual working hours. The findings highlight a clear East-West divide: in lower-paid occupations and sectors, workers in the East typically work more hours, while in higher-paid occupations and sectors, workers in the West tend to work longer. Country-level factors such as female workforce participation, national productivity, migration, and social benefits account for significant variations in working hours. Notably, female workforce participation and productivity have a stronger influence in Eastern countries, whereas migration has opposite effects: in the East, emigration is linked to longer working hours, while in the West, immigration corresponds to shorter working hours. These results carry important policy implications, particularly for countries where female labour force activity and productivity are lagging.
Biography of presenter:
Albian Krasniqi is a PhD researcher and lecturer at TU Dublin. He holds an MSc in Economics from the University of Prishtina, Kosovo, and an MSc in Development Economics from the University of Sussex, UK. Before pursuing his PhD, Albian served as an economist for the Ministry of Finance in Kosovo and worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Prishtina.