UK workers in education are set to have the shortest average working weeks in 2026, while employees in agriculture, transport and construction continue to put in some of the longest hours, according to analysis of national pay and hours data.
The contrast highlights how uneven access to rest time remains across the labour market, even as work-life balance continues to shape career decisions.
The findings are based on research by CVMaker, an online tool, which analysed data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings to compare average weekly working hours across UK industries. The analysis focuses on contracted and paid hours, offering insight into how much time workers in different sectors are likely to spend at work over the coming year.
Across all industries, the average UK working week stands at 39.1 hours. But the figure conceals wide variation between sectors, with some employees working substantially fewer hours than the national norm.
Sectors with the Shortest Working Weeks
Education ranks as the sector with the shortest average working week, at 35.2 hours. This is almost four hours less than the UK average, a difference that can translate into more consistent time for rest, family life and recovery during term time.
Financial and insurance activities follow, with employees averaging 36 hours per week. Professional, scientific and technical roles and other service activities are joint third, both at 37.6 hours. Information and communication roles average 38 hours per week, while real estate activities come in at 38.1 hours, only slightly below the national norm.
From a wellbeing perspective, shorter working weeks are often associated with lower fatigue levels and improved recovery, particularly in roles that allow for predictable schedules. While pay and job security remain important, working time continues to play a central role in how sustainable roles feel over the long term.
Long-Hours Sectors Continue to Dominate
At the opposite end of the scale, agriculture, forestry and fishing record the longest average working week, at 42.7 hours. This is more than three and a half hours above the national average.
Transport and storage roles follow closely, with employees working an average of 42 hours per week. Construction and water supply and waste management roles are joint third, both at 41.3 hours. Accommodation and food services average 40.4 hours, while administrative and support services also exceed the UK average at 40.1 hours.
For wellbeing professionals, these longer working weeks are significant. Extended hours are commonly linked to higher physical and mental fatigue, particularly in sectors involving manual labour, shift work or irregular schedules. Without appropriate safeguards, long hours can increase the risk of burnout, accidents and longer-term health problems.
Gender Differences in Working Hours
The analysis also points to persistent gender differences in weekly working hours. Women work fewer hours than men in every sector studied, although the size of the gap varies considerably.
In financial and insurance activities, the difference is just 0.4 hours per week. In construction, the gap widens to 3.5 hours. Education again stands out, offering the shortest working weeks for both men and women. Men in education average 35.8 hours per week, while women average 34.8 hours, the lowest figure recorded for any group in the study.
Nicky Klaasse, chief executive of CVMaker, said the findings raised broader questions about flexibility and caring responsibilities across the labour market. “This study offers valuable insights into which industries might offer better work-life balance, especially as we go into 2026,” she said. “The education sector stands out with significantly shorter working hours than other industries, which may explain why it attracts so many people despite offering a lower salary.”
She also pointed to the consistency of gender gaps across sectors. “The consistent pattern of women working fewer hours across all sectors raises questions about workplace flexibility and the ongoing impact of caring responsibilities, such as childcare availability.”
She added that the largest differences tended to appear in traditionally male dominated industries, saying, “The largest gender gaps in working hours appear in traditionally male-dominated industries like construction and transportation, while sectors with more balanced gender representation tend to have smaller differences”.
Why Working Time Still Matters for Wellbeing
The findings reveal how sector norms around working hours can shape attraction, retention and long-term wellbeing. While shorter working weeks alone do not guarantee good work, they can support recovery and reduce chronic fatigue when paired with realistic workloads.
In sectors where long hours remain embedded, employers may need to place greater emphasis on scheduling predictability, access to rest breaks and workload management. As employees continue to weigh quality of life alongside pay and progression, working time is likely to remain one of the most scrutinised aspects of job design heading into 2026.