Workers in poor countries work longer hours than those in rich countries, Mom. While it may sound surprising, various data shows that people in low-income countries spend more time working each year.Citizens in wealthy countries tend to have shorter working hours than those living in countries with lower levels of prosperity.This difference means workers in poor countries often face longer work days and fewer holidays.
Workers in poor countries work longer hours
According to Our World in Data, economic prosperity is currently highly unequal across the globe. Residents of Switzerland, one of the world’s richest countries, have an average income more than 15 times higher than those of Cambodia.
When considering such differences in prosperity, the question that arises is who works more, people in rich countries like Switzerland or in poor countries like Cambodia?
Based on available data, workers in poorer countries tend to work longer hours. Countries like Cambodia and Myanmar have the lowest GDP per capita but the highest working hours.
In Cambodia, the average employee works about 2,500 hours per year, about 900 hours more than in Switzerland (less than 1,600 hours). For Cambodian workers, the extra 900 hours means longer workdays and significantly fewer holidays.
Working hours tend to decrease as a country’s wealth increases.
There is also a relationship between national income and average hours worked, not only between countries at a particular point in time, but also for individual countries over time.
Since the industrial revolution, people in many countries have become wealthier, and working hours have decreased drastically over the last 150 years.
Data shows that as people’s incomes increase, they can afford more of the things they enjoy, including more leisure time and less time spent working.
High productivity makes working hours shorter
Mom, one of the reasons workers in rich countries can work less is because their productivity levels are higher.
Productivity is the ability to produce more work or value in the same amount of time. For example, a worker equipped with modern technology can complete more tasks in an hour than a worker using simpler equipment. This means greater output, even though the work time is not longer.
Because they are able to produce higher economic value per hour, workers in high-productivity countries do not need to spend as much time working.
Conversely, in countries with lower productivity, people often have to work longer hours to achieve the same results.
Technological innovation makes work get done faster
The relationship between higher income and shorter working hours is strongly influenced by technological advances.
Thanks to machines, modern equipment, knowledge and more efficient working methods, workers can produce more in less time.
One example is seen in the agricultural sector. Previously, farmers needed a lot of labor and time to produce a harvest, but now, with the help of machinery, superior seeds, and agricultural technology, the work has become much more efficient and yields have increased.
Additionally, working less can also help maintain high productivity. When someone works too long without adequate rest, their concentration and performance tend to decline.
Therefore, more balanced working hours often enable workers to produce better work in less time.
