Working 9 to 5? New figures reveal the areas of Wales working the longest hours

UK-based data collection experts at SmartSurvey analysed ONS census data to find the areas in Wales that work the longest hours based on the percentage of residents working 49 hours or more each week.

Working 49 hours or more is a lot since, by law, people cannot be forced to work more than 48 hours per week, averaged over a period of 17 weeks. This is unless they voluntarily opt out or work in an industry exempt from this law, such as the emergency services or armed forces. Some industries cannot opt out, such as airline staff.

The average for Wales is 10.59% of working residents work 49 hours or more, while the average for England and Wales combined is 11.04%.

1. Powys

Not only is Powys the largest county in Wales, it also tops the list for the area in Wales working the longest hours, with 16.3% of working residents working 49 hours or more. This is 53.97% more than the Welsh average of 10.59%.

2. Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire ranks second for the areas in Wales working the longest hours, with 14.29% of working residents working 49 hours or more weekly. Located in the south-west of Wales, the percentage of Pembrokeshire residents working 49 hours or more is 34.91% more than the Welsh average.

3. Ceredigion

Ceredigion is third for the area of Wales working the longest hours, with 13.98% of working residents working 49 hours or more each week. Situated on the west coast of Wales, Ceredigion’s percentage of residents working 49 hours or more weekly is 31.99% above the Welsh average.

4. Monmouthshire

Monmouthshire sits fourth for the area of Wales working the longest hours. 12.78% of the south-eastern county’s working residents work 49 hours or more, which is 20.69% above the Welsh average.

5. Carmarthenshire

12.57% of Carmarthenshire’s working residents work 49 hours or more, meaning it places fifth for the areas of Wales working the longest hours. The south-western county sits 18.71% above the Welsh national average.

6. Isle of Anglesey

Coming sixth for the areas of Wales working the longest hours is the Isle of Anglesey, with 11.82% of working residents working 49 hours or more. Located off the north-western coast, Anglesey’s figure is 11.63% higher than the Welsh average.

7. Gwynedd

Gwynedd is seventh for the areas of Wales working the longest hours, with 11.66% of working residents working 49 hours or more. The north-western county’s figure is 10.08% more than the Welsh average.

8. Denbighshire

In eighth for the areas of Wales working the longest hours is Denbighshire, with 11.43% of working residents working 49 hours or more. Located in the north, Denbighshire’s figure is 7.92% above the Welsh average.

9. Conwy

Conwy is ninth for the areas of Wales working the longest hours, with 11.29% of working residents working 49 hours or more. Also located in the north, Conwy’s figure is 6.62% more than the Welsh average.

10. Vale of Glamorgan

Rounding out the top ten areas of Wales working the longest hours is the Vale of Glamorgan, with 10.41% of working residents working 49 hours or more. Located in the south, the Vale of Glamorgan’s figure is 1.65% below the average for Wales.

The study also found that Cardiff works the second shortest hours in Wales, placing 21^st out of 22. 8.36% of Cardiff’s working residents work 49 hours or more, a figure 21.01% below the Welsh average.