The Netherlands tops the European Union when it comes to career length, with Dutch workers putting in an average of 43.8 years, more than six years longer than the EU average of 37.2 years.
According to the latest research from Eurostat, in 2024, only six countries boast career lengths above 40 years, and the Netherlands is firmly in the lead.
Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, and Germany follow, while countries like Romania and Italy sit at the bottom, with careers averaging less than 33 years.
Working longer is the trend (and the Dutch are already ahead)
The EU is working harder than ever (well, longer anyway).
Since 2015, the average career has grown from under 35 years to 37.2 years today. The only noticeable pause in this increase occurred during the COVID pandemic.
READ MORE | 10 things to know before finding work in the Netherlands as an international
But while the rest of Europe slowly catches up, Dutch workers have been powering through, coffee in hand.
Dutch gender gap smaller than EU average
While a gender gap in career length still exists across Europe, with women working 4.2 years less than men on average, the Netherlands shows a smaller divide.
Dutch men work an average of 45.7 years, and women 41.8 years, resulting in a 3.9-year gap in average career lengths.
In contrast, Italy shows the largest disparity, with men working nine years longer than women — largely due to lower female workforce participation.
So, the Dutch aren’t just working the longest, they’re also showing a bit more balance between men and women when it comes to time on the job. Efficient and (almost) equal? That’s very on-brand.
How does your country compare? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
