1 in 4 workers spends all day behind a screen, survey shows

More than a quarter of working people in Belgium spend virtually their whole day on a computer or smartphone, according to new data from Statbel released on Tuesday.

For 25.8 per cent of people, all or most of their working day is spent on tasks that require digital skills. These are tasks that use a computer, tablet or smartphone, not including phone calls.

Slightly more women (27.3 per cent) than men (24.4) spend most of the working day behind a screen, as do people with a high level of education (39.3 per cent) compared to those with a medium or low level of education.

The data comes from the EU’s 2022 Labour Force Survey, which surveyed 17,800 people aged 15 to 74 in member states. It was the first time the survey included questions on job-related skills.

Belgium’s figure is lower than the EU rate: nearly 30 per cent of employed people in the EU report using digital devices for the entirety or most of their working day. Luxembourg has the highest rate at 46.6 per cent, followed by the Netherlands and Sweden, with results also exceeding 40 per cent.

Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania have the lowest rates, with less than 20 per cent of employed people using digital devices during all or most of their working time.

^{© BELGA PHOTO STEPHAN ENGLER}