One month a year: The productivity difference separating US and European office workers, according to DeskTime data

How much of our workday do we spend doing actual work? It’s a question that often sparks debate, and gets particularly intriguing when comparing work habits across different countries. DeskTime’s latest data analysis sheds new light on this conversation, revealing how office workers in different regions structure their days—and how that impacts their productivity.

Our latest study highlights a striking gap in how office workers in Europe and the United States allocate their workdays. Based on a sample of nearly 17,000 users across both regions, the analysis shows notable differences in productive computer time, offline activities such as meetings and breaks, and the overall length of the typical workday.

On average, DeskTime users in the US log 6 hours and 10 minutes of productive computer time per day, compared to 5 hours and 20 minutes among their European counterparts—a daily difference of 50 minutes that adds up to roughly 27 full eight-hour workdays over the course of a year. 

The data also reveals that American employees tend to have slightly longer workdays and spend less time away from their desks, while Europeans take more offline time and have a higher share of unproductive computer use.

“Europe and the US are often compared—both in terms of our economies and our working habits. While Americans tend to embrace the hustle culture, Europeans value stricter boundaries and work-life balance. In the big picture, European and American work habits are not that different. The US employees “win” about an extra hour of productive work time through longer office hours and a more intense workday rhythm. That may keep the US economy strong, but we also see higher burnout rates there than in Europe. So the question remains—is it worth it? Perhaps it depends on who you ask,”  says Artis Rozentals, CEO of DeskTime.

Previous studies have come to a similar conclusion—Americans work longer hours than Europeans. That is partly explained by the EU’s Working Time Directive, which sets the maximum workweek at 48 hours and requires employers to ensure their workers regular rest and paid leave.

Working longer takes a toll

For Americans, however, the longer working hours come at a cost. A 2024 survey by Kickresume found that only 34% of Americans are either happy or very happy with their work-life balance, compared to 51% of Europeans. In 2025, burnout rates reached a 10-year high for US workers, according to a report by Glassdoor.

DeskTime data shows that the average US office worker starts at 8:07 AM and finishes at 5:20 PM. Of the time spent at the office, 67% is dedicated to productive computer work, compared to 61% in Europe.

The average office worker in Europe starts their day at 8:48 AM and finishes at 5:34 PM. Across the region, the longest workdays were found in the Netherlands (9h 25m), Germany (9h 25m), and Romania (9h 23m). The shortest workdays are in Slovakia (7h 59m), Sweden (8h 11m), and Italy (8h 18m). The countries with the most productive computer times are Denmark (6h 27m), Spain (6h 14m), and Portugal (6h 13m).

Article written by

Ieva Sipola

Ieva Sipola is a productivity and technology writer who has been a long-time contributor to the DeskTime blog. Her work has also appeared on Lifehack, The Ladders, Pick the Brain, Hackernoon, and numerous blogs. In addition to writing, Ieva loves traveling and collecting quirky stories and experiences.