Employment Statistic: Workweek Pattern
5-day workweek continues to be the norm
The 5-day workweek continued to be the norm, with 44% of employees under such a
working arrangement where the standard working hours are typically compressed into 5
days a week, with employees working longer each day. Lagging significantly behind were
the 6-day workweek (18%), 5½-day (15%), and shift work (14%), each accounting for less
than one fifth of employees in 2008. A slight increase in the proportion of employees under a
5-day workweek was observed from 43% in 2006 to 44% in 2008, following a rise in the
proportion of managers & executives in the workforce1 (Chart 1).
The 5-day workweek continued to be the norm, with 44% of employees under such a
working arrangement where the standard working hours are typically compressed into 5
days a week, with employees working longer each day. Lagging significantly behind were
the 6-day workweek (18%), 5½-day (15%), and shift work (14%), each accounting for less
than one fifth of employees in 2008. A slight increase in the proportion of employees under a
5-day workweek was observed from 43% in 2006 to 44% in 2008, following a rise in the
proportion of managers & executives in the workforce1 (Chart 1).
5-day workweek more common among management and executives
2.2 The majority (76%) of management and executives were on the 5-day workweek in
2008. The share was substantially lower at 27% for rank-and-file (RAF) employees, who
were spread more widely across other workweek patterns such as 6-day workweek (25%),
5½-day (20%) and shift work (19%) (Table 1).
2.2 The majority (76%) of management and executives were on the 5-day workweek in
2008. The share was substantially lower at 27% for rank-and-file (RAF) employees, who
were spread more widely across other workweek patterns such as 6-day workweek (25%),
5½-day (20%) and shift work (19%) (Table 1).
6-day work week common in restaurants and construction
2.3 Employees in higher-end services industries such as Financial Services (94%),
Information & Communications (86%) and Professional Services (78%) were predominantly
on a 5-day workweek. At the other end of the spectrum, the 6-day workweek was more
common among employees in Restaurants (63%) and Construction (57%).
2.4 Although, overall only 14% of employees were working shifts, the incidence was
much higher in Hotels (56%) and Electronic Products (54%)
2.3 Employees in higher-end services industries such as Financial Services (94%),
Information & Communications (86%) and Professional Services (78%) were predominantly
on a 5-day workweek. At the other end of the spectrum, the 6-day workweek was more
common among employees in Restaurants (63%) and Construction (57%).
2.4 Although, overall only 14% of employees were working shifts, the incidence was
much higher in Hotels (56%) and Electronic Products (54%)
Source from
MANPOWER RESEARCH AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, PAPER NO. 4/2008, Conditions of Employment 2008
MANPOWER RESEARCH AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF MANPOWER, PAPER NO. 4/2008, Conditions of Employment 2008
