Pay and working conditions in European countries

Thinking about working in another European country? For each of 32 countries – all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom – you will find the key labour market figures, where the jobs are, how to apply, pay and working conditions, student jobs and what to do in your first weeks. General advice on job search, your CV and your rights: How to find a job abroad – 10 practical guides »

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United Kingdom

Minimum wage (from April 2026): £12.71 an hour from age 21 (National Living Wage), £10.85 at 18–20, £8.00 under 18 and for apprentices. Rates change on 1 April every year.
Working time: no more than 48 hours a week on average, normally averaged over 17 weeks – but you can sign an agreement with your employer to opt out. Under-18s: at most 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week.
Breaks: a 20-minute break if you work more than 6 hours a day, 11 hours’ rest between working days and 24 hours off each week (or 48 hours every two weeks).
Overtime: there is no legal right to extra pay – check your contract. But your average pay for all the hours you work must not fall below the minimum wage.
Holidays: almost all workers get 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year – 28 days if you work 5 days a week. Your employer may count bank holidays as part of it.
Contract: on your first day you must get a written statement of the main terms (pay, hours, holidays, place of work, probation); a wider statement (pensions, collective agreements, disciplinary rules) follows within 2 months.

Common questions about job applications and interviews

Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.

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