page_title: Working time
section_title: Trends over time
hierarchical_section_title: Working time / Average annual hours actually worked per worker / Trends over time
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Nombre moyen d'heures travaillées annuellement par salarié dans les pays de l'OCDE de 1970 à 2011. Source OCDEEnglish: Average annual hours actually worked per worker in OECD countries from 1970 to 2011. Source OECD
context_page_description: Working time is the period of time that a person spends at paid labor. Unpaid labor such as personal housework or caring for children or pets is not considered part of the working week.
  Many countries regulate the work week by law, such as stipulating minimum daily rest periods, annual holidays, and a maximum number of working hours per week. Working time may vary from person to person, often depending on economic conditions, location, culture, lifestyle choice, and the profitability of the individual's livelihood. For example, someone who is supporting children and paying a large mortgage might need to work more hours to meet basic costs of living than someone of the same earning power with lower housing costs. In developed countries like the United Kingdom, some workers are part-time because they are unable to find full-time work, but many choose reduced work hours to care for children or other family; some choose it simply to increase leisure time.
  Standard working hours refers to the legislation to limit the working hours per day, per week, per month or per year. The employer pays higher rates for overtime hours as required in the law.
caption: Average annual hours actually worked per worker in OECD countries from 1970 to 2011
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