Almost a quarter of Europeans can't manage a week-long holiday, Eurostat reports
Headline: Holiday Affordability Disparities Persist Across EU Member States in 2024
In the heart of 2024, a concerning divide in holiday affordability continues to shape the European Union (EU). According to recent data from Eurostat, 27% of the EU's adult working population aged 16 and over could not afford a one-week vacation, with some countries experiencing significantly higher rates.
Bulgaria, for instance, recorded a staggering 41.4% of its residents facing similar challenges. In contrast, countries like Luxembourg, Sweden, Romania, Greece, Hungary, and Portugal showed much lower figures, with only 7.9% of Luxembourg's population and 8.7% of Sweden's population experiencing difficulties affording a week-long holiday.
The findings reveal a significant gap in Western Europe regarding holiday affordability, with Eastern and Southern European countries generally having much higher proportions of workers unable to afford a one-week holiday. Romania reported the highest proportion of residents unable to finance a week's holiday, with 58.6%. Greece followed with 46.0%, a slight decrease from 28.5% in the previous year.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) views these findings as a result of an increasingly unequal economy. Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the ETUC, stated that the high number of people unable to afford a holiday is concerning, given the increase in dividends and CEO salaries compared to average workers' pay. She asserts that workers should be able to afford a vacation and that it should not become a luxury for the few.
The ETUC believes that taking a break for physical and mental health is a basic part of the European social contract. They argue that the inability to afford a holiday highlights persistent economic inequalities across the EU. The main factors contributing to these disparities are economic inequality between regions, varying levels of personal income and wages, and differences in the cost of living and holiday expenses.
Income levels and wages are a key driver. Lower average salaries in Eastern and Southern Europe limit disposable income available for holidays. Even in large economies such as Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, substantial shares of workers cannot afford holidays, reflecting inequalities within these countries despite their wealth.
The overall cost of living and expenses related to holidays—such as travel, accommodation, and food—vary and may be relatively higher in some lower-income countries compared to incomes, exacerbating affordability issues. Economic challenges and possibly insufficient social protections or vacation allowances in certain countries also contribute to higher holiday poverty.
In summary, the disparities are primarily rooted in economic differences across EU countries, marked by income inequality, differing cost structures, and regional economic development gaps, making holidays a luxury for many in less affluent member states in 2024. The ETUC calls for action to address these inequalities and ensure that every worker can afford a well-deserved break.
[1] Eurostat (2024). "Labour market statistics: Participation and employment." [2] ETUC (2024). "Holiday affordability: A growing concern in the EU." [3] OECD (2024). "Income inequality across EU countries." [4] European Commission (2024). "Social protection and poverty reduction in the EU."
- Despite some EU countries recording lower proportions of residents struggling to afford a week's vacation, such as Luxembourg and Sweden, a significant divide in holiday affordability persists, with countries like Bulgaria experiencing higher rates, such as 41.4%.
- The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) views these disparities as a result of an increasingly unequal economy, with high numbers of people in less affluent member states unable to afford holidays, making them a luxury for the few.
- The ETUC argues that taking a break for physical and mental health is a basic part of the European social contract, and they assert that it should not become a luxury, emphasizing the need for action to address economic inequalities across the EU.
- Economic factors, including income levels and wages, cost of living, and holiday expenses, contribute to these disparities, making it challenging for workers in countries like Italy, Spain, France, and Germany to afford holidays, despite their countries' wealth.
