European employee commuting time trends

An international survey by SD Worx involving 16,000 employees across 15 European countries and the UK has highlighted varying daily commuting trends across the continent.

Initial data identified Belgium as having the highest average daily commute at 61 minutes, surpassing the international average of 48 minutes. The study noted that 13% of Belgian employees are “super-commuters,” traveling for two hours or more daily. This figure exceeds the 57-minute threshold that employees consider the maximum acceptable commuting time.

Subsequent reporting expanded on these findings, noting that Romania’s average commute has reached 53 minutes. While this duration matches the average in the Netherlands, the causes differ; Romanian commuters face longer travel times due to heavy traffic and urban congestion despite covering shorter distances. In contrast, workers in the Netherlands travel an average of 63 kilometers. Other regional findings include Sweden and Ireland with averages of 57 and 56 minutes, respectively, while Italy and Slovenia report the shortest commutes at approximately 35 and 32 minutes.