The United Kingdom has been named one of the world’s hardest-working countries in a new international ranking that suggests rising numbers of workers are taking on second jobs, driven by flexible hours and growing financial pressure.

Research conducted by international SEO agency Loopex Digital analysed workforce data across major economies to determine which populations are working the hardest in 2025. The UK ranked ninth overall, with strong employment levels, moderate working hours and a high proportion of individuals juggling multiple roles.

The study used five labour indicators to calculate each country’s score: employment rate, average weekly working hours, the share of workers holding multiple jobs, labour productivity (GDP per hour worked) and quality of life. Each country was scored from 1 to 99, with higher numbers indicating a more intensive work culture. The UK scored 77.

UK workers are employed at a rate of 75.2 percent, working an average of 30.9 hours per week. Labour productivity was recorded at $59 per hour, and 3.5 percent of workers reported having more than one job. The multi-jobholding rate places the UK ahead of countries like Slovakia, Italy and Cyprus, where workers are more likely to hold a single role.

Remote work and economic pressure fuelling job juggling

According to Loopex Digital, the increase in multiple jobholding across developed economies is being shaped by the expansion of remote work, which gives people greater flexibility in how they manage their time and income.

Loopex Digital CEO and co-founder Vahan Poghosyan said the figures showed a growing disconnect between hours worked and output delivered.

“The relationship between productivity and work hours is changing worldwide,” he said. “Workers who produce more value per hour often enjoy better work-life balance, while those working longer hours sometimes create less economic output.

“There is also the growing rate of multiple job holding across many countries. This trend is likely driven by increasing remote work opportunities, allowing employees to be more flexible with their time management and boost their income without extra effort spent on commutes and related logistics.”

While the UK’s productivity remains below the top performers in the study, it is among the leading nations for combining consistent employment with moderate hours and flexible arrangements that support multiple roles.

Ireland, Luxembourg and Cyprus top the global rankings

Ireland was ranked the hardest-working country in the world, scoring the maximum 99 points. Its employment rate stood at 74.7 percent, with 3.9 percent of workers holding more than one job. Irish workers produced $143 worth of economic output per hour worked — second only to Luxembourg — and averaged 30.7 hours per week.

Cyprus ranked second, with a higher employment rate (77.1 percent) and longer working hours (34.1 per week), but lower multi-jobholding and productivity scores. Slovakia, Norway, Germany and Malta also appeared in the top six, with a mix of moderate hours and strong economic output.

Luxembourg, which came eighth overall, recorded the highest labour productivity globally at $146 per hour. Its workforce works 32.4 hours per week, with nearly 5 percent holding multiple jobs. The country also had the highest quality of life score in the study.

The analysis showed that several countries with shorter working weeks still ranked highly due to their efficiency. Norway, for example, had the shortest average workweek among the top 10 at 27.1 hours but achieved $93 of output per hour and had one of the highest multi-jobholding rates, at 6.4 percent.

Italy completed the top 10, with longer working hours (33.9 per week) and modest productivity ($62 per hour), but a very low rate of second jobs at just 0.9 percent.

Balancing output and wellbeing

Researchers said the results underscored a wider trend in developed economies: that working more hours does not necessarily translate into higher output, and that time flexibility is shaping how people engage with employment.

While the study did not examine wage levels, housing costs or household income, Loopex Digital said quality of life was included to help contextualise the trade-offs between work intensity and wellbeing. The UK had a quality of life index score of 177 — lower than countries like Norway (199) and Austria (198), but higher than Cyprus and Italy.

The rise in second jobs in the UK and elsewhere comes as many employees seek ways to maintain income amid cost of living pressures, while employers increasingly accept non-linear work patterns. The expansion of hybrid and fully remote roles has enabled workers to take on project-based or part-time roles without the traditional commute, especially in sectors such as digital services, education, creative work and online retail.

The study analysed 2025 labour data and quality of life metrics from government and international economic sources, alongside estimates of GDP per hour worked.