UK male weekly hours worked: manufacturing
UK male weekly hours worked: manufacturing stood at 39.47 hours per week in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT). It is one of the indicators in the Labour force, ILO annual table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1993 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour force, ILO annual table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly hours worked, Men | |||||||||||
| Manufacturing | 39.47 | 39.76 | 40 | 40.17 | 40.09 | 39.97 | 40.76 | 40.77 | 40.91 | 41.1 | |
| Construction | 40.76 | 40.54 | 40.49 | 40.57 | 40.27 | 40.2 | 41.49 | 41.71 | 42.26 | 42.12 |
Understanding UK male weekly hours worked: manufacturing
Factory production lines, assembly plants, engineering works, and processing facilities across the United Kingdom delineate the scope for male manufacturing operatives and staff. The metric records the average weekly hours actually worked by men in these industrial environments, including regular hours, shift premiums, and overtime. Factory closures for maintenance, official holidays, and sickness absence are excluded from the totals. This series highlights the industrial working hours of male participants in goods-producing sectors.
When analysing the data, observers must account for factory shutdowns, supply chain bottlenecks, and cyclical swings in global demand for manufactured goods. Early estimates are routinely updated as industrial survey returns are reconciled with administrative tax records. Annual comparisons offer a more stable analytical foundation than month-to-month changes, which are often distorted by annual summer shutdowns. Analysts should also consider that technological automation can alter total hours worked without necessarily reducing manufacturing output.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this cover administrative staff sitting in factory offices?
- Yes, all male personnel on the payroll of manufacturing enterprises, whether on the shop floor or in offices, are included.
- How do summer holiday shutdowns affect the figures?
- Many manufacturing plants close for a fortnight in summer, temporarily depressing average weekly hours for that period.
- Are overtime hours weighted heavier than standard hours?
- No, each hour worked counts equally regardless of whether it attracts an overtime pay rate.