27/07/2021 (Agence Europe) – In 2020, the number of hours worked in main employment in the European Union decreased by 12% compared to 2019, according to figures published by Eurostat on Friday 23 July. “This decrease is explained by the measures taken in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which led many people to alternate periods of work and periods of absence from work in 2020”, says the EU statistical office. At national level, a fall in hours worked was observed in all Member States, but the largest falls were recorded in Greece (-19.7%), Spain (-19.5%), and Portugal and Italy (both -19.0%). The EU countries where the number of hours worked changed little (with a reduction of less than 5%) were Finland (-4.4%), Denmark and Luxembourg (both -4.1%), and the Netherlands (-3.2%). (PH)