A new survey reveals that Brazilian workers dedicate an average of 40.1 hours per week to paid work, below the global average of 42.7 hours. The analysis, based on data from 160 countries, shows Brazil in lower positions in rankings adjusted for productivity, demographics, and taxes. Brazilian women, in particular, are approaching the world standard, especially among the youngest.
Economist Daniel Duque from FGV Ibre used a global database of working hours, organized by Amory Gethin from the World Bank and Emmanuel Saez from the University of California at Berkeley, to analyze labor effort in Brazil. The study, covering 97% of the global population in 2022 and 2023, confirms that Brazilians work less than expected for the country's productivity and demographic structure: about 1 hour and 12 minutes less per week.
In direct comparison with 86 countries over more than two decades, Brazil ranks 38th in hours worked. Adjusted for productivity and demographics, it falls to 60th out of 85 nations, in the lowest third of effort. Incorporating taxes and transfers, such as pensions, it ranks 53rd out of 76 countries, still 1 hour and 18 minutes below expectations.
The relationship between productivity and hours worked forms a 'mountain': it rises in emerging economies and falls in rich ones, where leisure gains value. Brazilians, according to Duque, 'descend the mountain' prematurely. Countries like the United Arab Emirates show the highest positive effort, while Moldova and Mozambique deviate negatively.
For women, the picture improves: in the 1990s and early 2000s, they worked up to 6 hours less than expected, but now they converge to the standard, possibly due to demographic transition and economic needs. Youth aged 15 to 19 work 1 hour and 48 minutes more than predicted.
Samuel Pessôa, Duque's colleague at FGV Ibre, considers the preference for leisure legitimate but notes that commute time may influence it. Fewer hours impact per capita income: compared to Korea and Taiwan, Brazilian men work nearly 6 hours less per week than expected, and women 11 hours. 'If we work 25% less, even if hourly productivity is the same, our per capita GDP will be 25% lower,' Pessôa summarizes.
These findings fuel debates on policies like ending the 6x1 scale, with Folha readers expressing desires for more family time, hobbies, and studies, though some plan extra work to compensate for income. In the minimum wage context, Pessôa highlights that its post-Real Plan valorization is sustainable via high real interest rates, but requires stability for fiscal balance, with 2026 primary spending up R$ 210 billion.
