Work culture has evolved considerably over the last few decades. Whether we’re discussing pay, gender roles in the workplace, the 40-hour workweek, or the role of technology, the working world is ever-changing. Additionally, we have seen a drastic shift in how many people spend their work hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Working from home, flex days, and virtual platforms are now a part of the equation that not everyone is familiar with. And with these developments, employees' routines and work hours may have also shifted.

Whether or not your business operations saw a shift because of the pandemic, you’ve likely seen some type of change in how people view work or the amount of time people spend working. 

So how much does the average person nowadays really work? Let’s dive into some data to find concrete numbers and what that means for your business. 

How Many Hours Does The Average Person Work During The Week?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics keeps detailed records of this data. According to them, in 2021, the average American worked 8.1 hours per workday, which means that the average person worked 40.5 hours of work during the week.

While this is valuable information, the Bureau provides much more detailed statistics. Here’s how different types of jobs and levels of education play a role in the number of hours worked.

Type Of Work

Based on the work people participated in, they worked a different amount of weekday hours in 2021. 

See below:

• Full-time employees: 8.53 hours per weekday, 42.65 hours per week
• Part-time workers: 5.62 hours per weekday, 28.10 hours per week
• Single jobholders: 8.07 hours per weekday, 40.35 hours per week
• Multiple jobholders: 8.40 hours per weekday, 42.00 hours per week

Level Of Education

Based on education, people worked a different amount of weekday hours in 2021.

See below:

• Less than a high school diploma: 7.78 hours per weekday, 38.9 hours per week
• High school graduates, no college: 8.17 hours per weekday, 40.85 hours per week
• Some college or associate degree: 8.17 hours per weekday, 40.85 hours per week
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.25 hours per weekday, 41.25 hours per week

How Many Hours Does The Average Person Work On The Weekend?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, the average person worked 5.64 hours per weekend day. This means that the average person put in 11.28 hours of weekend work.

But just like the weekday average, much more detailed information is provided about the weekends. Keep reading to find out more.

Type of Work

Based on the type of work people had participated in, they worked a different amount of weekend hours in 2021. 

See below:

• Full-time workers: 5.89 hours per weekday, 11.78 hours per week
• Part-time workers: 4.76 hours per weekday, 9.52 hours per week
• Single jobholders: 5.53 hours per weekday, 11.06 hours per week
• Multiple jobholders: 6.36 hours per weekday, 12.72 hours per week

Level Of Education

Based on the level of education people had completed, they worked various weekend hours in 2021.

See below:

• Less than a high school diploma: 6.16 hours per weekday, 12.32 hours per week
• High school graduates, no college: 7.44 hours per weekday, 14.88 hours per week
• Some college or associate degree: 6.33 hours per weekday, 12.66 hours per week
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 4.35 hours per weekday, 8.7 hours per week

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Well, it’s often not how much people work that impacts them, but how they can balance their jobs with their personal lives. 

As a business owner, you must be aware of the environment and morale of your company and how that relates to employee performance.

How Can You Maintain Work-Life Balance?

Whether you are preparing to start your own small business or already have one, maintaining a work-life balance is crucial for you and your employees. With work taking up almost half of the average person’s day, it’s easy to get caught up in it all.

But it’s crucial to note that studies show a lack of work-life balance can cause:

• Burnout
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Physiological distress
• Physical and emotional exhaustion

Don’t get us wrong, the value of hard work is not obsolete. You should work hard and run your business with passion and conviction. But it’s finding the balance between work and life that matters regarding mental and physical health. Fewer hours in the average working week can help stave off overwork and save you lots of time in the long run. Paid holidays, paid time off, and annual leave benefits can also help promote the well-being and overall productivity of your work force.

Ten Ways To Promote Work-Life Balance

1. Create personal goals to hold yourself accountable
2. Create professional plans to give yourself direction
3. Respect your time and your employees’ time by practicing efficiency
4. Understand that it’s okay to say no or to turn things down (and respect when others do)
5. Unplug when you aren’t at work
6. Find a self-care routine that works for you
7. Use your vacation time
8. Take scheduled breaks at work
9. Practice gratitude (especially for the little things)
10. Spend time with the people who matter the most to you

You are the pack's leader as a business owner or future business owner. It is your job to set the tone of your workplace environment. If your employees see you practicing balance, they are more likely to do the same. 

If you can create an environment where your employees want to be, your personal and professional life will likely see the benefits.

Creating a positive work environment boasts many benefits, which include increased:

• Retention 
• Buy-in and engagement
• Morale
• Productivity

Essentially, suppose you promote balance in the workplace. In that case, your employees are more likely to stay with your business, be happier at work, spread that happiness around, and do their jobs more efficiently. 

Sounds great, right? So, how do you and your employees reap all of these benefits? 

Conclusion

With the average person working 40.5 hours per weekday and 11.28 hours per weekend, it’s common to feel like you are on a hamster wheel. That is why creating a work-life balance is so important. 

Whether your employees are full-time, part-time, or anything in between, they need to feel like they are in a positive environment while putting in their hours. 

If you’re a business owner, make the most of your work hours to set up your business for success. For more help setting up your business for success, Hoist can help. Check out our website for more information.

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Sources:

Average Hours Employed People Spent Working On Days Worked By Day Of Week ⎸ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Work–Life Balance: Weighing the Importance of Work–Family and Work–Health Balance ⎸ National Library Of Medicine

Self Care Activities ⎸ University of Texas