Introduction to the Key Findings
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) study titled “How Many Hours Are Worked in Latin America? Indicators of Working Time and Its Organization,” the average weekly working hours in Latin America exceed those of OECD countries by an average of five hours. In Mexico, this gap is particularly significant.
Regional Overview
The ILO report states that, on average, people in Latin America work 40 effective hours per week. This is five more hours than the working week in high-income countries, as represented by OECD members.
- Mexico ranks 7th with 42.5 hours worked.
- Guyana has the highest number of working hours in Latin America at 44.7.
- Puerto Rico reports the fewest hours worked at 35.8.
Moreover, approximately one in four workers in Mexico works more than 48 hours a week, exacerbating health concerns, productivity, and work-life balance.
Gender Disparity
The ILO report also highlights a significant gender gap: men dedicate more time to paid work, while women accumulate a greater total workload by combining paid and unpaid care work.
Although men in Latin America work more paid hours (42.7 weekly compared to women’s 36.9), the overall workload is higher for women when including unpaid care work.
This “double shift” limits women’s access to quality jobs, training, and leadership opportunities, according to Sonia Gontero, ILO specialist on Wages and Working Time for Cono Sur.
Part-Time Work Disparity
It’s worth noting that in the region, women are nearly twice as likely (35%) to work part-time (less than 35 hours) compared to men (20%). Countries with the highest incidences include Bolivia, Argentina, and Uruguay, primarily due to the prevalence of part-time work among women.
Key Questions and Answers
- What does the ILO report reveal about working hours in Latin America? The study finds that, on average, people in Latin America work 40 effective hours per week, which is five more hours than the working week in high-income countries represented by OECD members.
- Which country in Latin America has the longest working hours? Guyana has the highest number of working hours in Latin America at 44.7.
- What is the gender disparity in working hours in Latin America? Men dedicate more time to paid work, while women accumulate a greater total workload by combining paid and unpaid care work.
- What percentage of women in Latin America are more likely to work part-time compared to men? Women are nearly twice as likely (35%) to work part-time (less than 35 hours) compared to men (20%).
