Slough Unites South Holland and More Named UK’s Hardest-Working Area as New Study Reveals Longer Working Hours Across Britain

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Slough Unites South Holland and More Named UK’s Hardest-Working Area as New Study Reveals Longer Working Hours Across Britain. New research shows Slough leading the national rankings with 35.9 working hours weekly, followed by South Holland and Rutland, highlighting regional differences in employment patterns, workplace demands and labour trends.

Slough has been named the UK’s hardest-working area as new research reveals longer working hours across Britain. Workers in Slough average 35.9 hours weekly, ahead of South Holland and Rutland. The findings highlight significant regional differences in employment patterns, workplace demands and working hours across the United Kingdom.

Slough Tops UK Rankings for Average Weekly Working Hours

Slough has emerged as the area with the longest average working week in the United Kingdom, according to new research by Re-flow Field Management. The study examined Office for National Statistics (ONS) data for 2025, comparing average weekly working hours across local authorities.

The findings show that employees in Slough work an average of 35.9 hours per week, compared with the national average of 32.8 hours. This represents a difference of 3.1 hours, or approximately 9.45%.

The research provides insight into how working patterns vary between major employment centres, commuter towns and smaller regional economies.

Although the ranking describes areas with longer working weeks as harder-working, hours worked alone cannot measure productivity, individual effort or economic contribution.

South Holland and Rutland Follow Slough in National Ranking

South Holland and Rutland share an average working week of 35.7 hours, placing them second and third respectively.

South Holland recorded a 2.9% annual increase in average working hours, compared with Rutland’s 1% rise. This difference determined their positions under the study’s ranking methodology.

Stevenage follows in fourth place, with employees averaging 35.5 hours weekly. Cherwell ranks fifth at 35.2 hours.

The findings suggest that longer working weeks are not confined to London’s major business districts. Smaller towns and regional employment centres also feature prominently.

Top 10 UK Areas with the Longest Working Weeks in 2025

Source: Re-flow Field Management analysis of ONS data. The table includes 11 areas because two share ninth place.

London Boroughs Feature Among Areas with Longer Working Weeks

Two London boroughs feature prominently in the findings.

Kensington and Chelsea ranks sixth, recording an average of 35 hours per week. Its working hours increased by 3% compared with the previous year.

Hammersmith and Fulham occupies tenth place, with workers averaging 34.7 hours weekly, approximately 5.79% above the national average.

These figures reflect differences in local employment structures, including the concentration of professional services, office-based employment and other full-time roles.

However, the data does not establish whether longer hours are associated with higher wages, improved productivity or greater employee satisfaction.

North Warwickshire Records Sharpest Increase Among Leading Areas

North Warwickshire recorded the strongest annual increase among the highest-ranked areas, with average weekly working hours rising by 6%.

Its workforce now averages 34.8 hours weekly, placing the district seventh.

Cannock Chase follows in eighth place, recording the same weekly average but a smaller annual increase of 2.5%.

Nuneaton and Bedworth and Gosport share ninth position, each reporting 34.8 hours and annual growth of 2.2%.

These differences indicate that local employment conditions are changing at different rates, potentially reflecting shifts in workforce composition, staffing requirements and demand for labour.

Scotland’s Moray Records UK’s Shortest Average Working Week

At the opposite end of the ranking, Moray in Scotland recorded the lowest average weekly working hours at 30.1.

This is approximately 2.7 hours below the national average and 5.8 hours fewer than Slough.

Moray also experienced a 0.8% annual decline in average weekly hours.

The difference illustrates how employment patterns can vary between regions. Areas with larger proportions of part-time, seasonal or shift-based jobs may report shorter average working weeks without necessarily experiencing weaker economic performance.

What Longer Working Hours Mean for Business Travel and Tourism

The findings also provide useful context for Britain’s business travel and hospitality sectors.

Employment centres such as Slough, Stevenage and Cherwell support economic activity that can generate demand for business accommodation, transport connections, restaurants and corporate travel services.

Longer working weeks may influence when employees travel, how organisations schedule meetings and how businesses approach employee wellbeing.

For tourism operators, however, the research does not directly measure holiday demand, leisure spending or travel frequency.

Understanding regional working patterns can nevertheless help hospitality businesses and travel planners assess the different needs of corporate travellers and local customers.

The latest findings reveal significant differences in working hours across Britain, with Slough leading the rankings ahead of South Holland and Rutland. While several English districts report longer working weeks, Moray in Scotland records the shortest. The study highlights changing employment patterns, regional economic activity and workforce demands nationwide.

Slough’s position as the UK’s hardest-working area highlights differences in working hours across Britain. South Holland and Rutland follow closely, while Moray records the shortest average week. The research underlines how regional employment structures influence working patterns, offering useful insights for businesses, policymakers and the wider travel industry.