Key facts
- Extreme heatwaves in Europe are significantly impacting worker productivity and threatening economic growth.
- One in five EU workers is exposed to high temperatures at work, making it a growing occupational risk.
- Agriculture and construction sectors face the highest risks due to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and physically demanding work.
- Productivity losses accelerate sharply above 30°C, potentially becoming a structural drag on economic growth.
- The European Trade Union Confederation is calling for binding EU-wide rules on occupational heat exposure.
Extreme heatwaves across Europe are significantly impacting worker productivity and posing a threat to economic growth, according to economists and labor safety agencies. One in five workers in the European Union is exposed to high temperatures at work, making it one of the fastest-growing occupational risks linked to climate change.
Sectors such as agriculture and construction are on the front lines, with farm and construction workers facing prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and physically demanding tasks that raise body temperature. Surveys indicate that a substantial percentage of workers in these sectors, as well as in industry and transport, experience high temperatures for a significant portion of their working time. This exposure has become increasingly common, rising from 13% in 1995 to 21% in 2024.
Occupational exposure varies, with skilled agricultural workers reporting the highest levels, followed by craft workers, plant and machine operators, and elementary occupations. Men are more likely to be exposed than women due to the male-dominated nature of many high-risk occupations. These sectors also often employ seasonal, migrant, and self-employed workers with weaker employment protections.
Beyond discomfort, prolonged heat exposure can lead to serious health issues like dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, while also reducing concentration and increasing the risk of accidents. Productivity losses accelerate sharply once temperatures exceed approximately 30°C, potentially becoming a structural drag on economic growth. This affects sectors like construction and agriculture, where work may slow or stop during the hottest hours. Manufacturing faces higher cooling costs and lower productivity, while transport networks can experience delays. The energy sector is also strained by increased cooling demand and reduced efficiency of power stations.
Agriculture, contributing 1.2% to the EU's GDP, remains vulnerable to heat and drought, risking lower harvests and higher food prices. Construction, accounting for about 9% of the EU's GDP and employing 18 million people, faces significant disruption. In response to the heatwaves, several European countries have implemented measures such as restricting outdoor work during peak heat, shortening shifts, and providing water and rest breaks. The European Trade Union Confederation is advocating for binding EU-wide rules on occupational heat exposure, including maximum working temperatures and mandatory cooling breaks.