Survey finds 76% of women prefer a shorter workweek, compared to 57% of men. Work-life balance, increased job satisfaction and productivity are cited as major motivators.
GUAYNABO, Puerto Rico, Jan. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- LiveCareer®, a career service dedicated to resumes and cover letters, released findings from its 4-Day Work Week Report today. The report polled 1,130 American workers on their feelings about four-day workweeks and assessed the potential productivity gains from compressing a 40-hour workweek into fewer days.
Key takeaways:
- 67% of respondents believe they would be more productive with a four-day workweek, working 10-hour days.
- 76% of women support the shift to a four-day workweek, compared to 57% of men.
- 78% of workers believe AI or automation could enable a four-day workweek, with men being more optimistic (86%) than women (71%), revealing a strong reliance on technology to reshape work structures.
- Men are significantly more concerned than women about the schedule's impact on reduced collaboration time (48% vs. 28%)
- Women place greater emphasis on fewer meetings and remote work options as productivity boosters (50% and 39%, compared to 39% and 22% for men)
"The strong support for a four-day workweek, especially among women, highlights the prioritization of work-life balance and flexibility—a consistent theme in research on the needs of female workers," said Jasmine Escalera, a career expert for LiveCareer.
A Four-Day Workweek is the Preferred Work Schedule
The report found that workers want a four-day workweek. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed feel they would be most productive working four 10-hour shifts compared to a third who say they favor a five-day, 40-hour-a-week schedule.
Gendered Differences in Preferences
A four-day workweek has broad support among women who value better work-life balance and flexibility.
- 76% of women prefer a four-day workweek, compared to 57% of men.
- Men are more likely to prefer the traditional five-day schedule (43%) than women (24%).
Workers See Potential in a Four-Day Workweek
Part of the appeal of a four-day, 40-hour workweek is the perceived benefits of this type of schedule. Of those surveyed, the top benefits include:
- Better work-life balance (61%)
- Increased productivity (59%)
- Increased job satisfaction (59%)
Women, in particular, are interested in a four-day schedule's ability to help them prioritize work-life balance (69%) and lower commuting costs (40%), compared to 52% and 21% of men, respectively.
Workers Fear Productivity Problems
When asked what they predict would be the biggest challenges to staying productive in a four-day workweek, workers did cite several of the trade-offs they envisioned having to make if they adopt a condensed work schedule:
- 63% say that they believe a four-day workweek would result in longer workdays, leading to fatigue.
- 59% believe a condensed schedule can potentially increase their workload or expectations.
- Men are more concerned about a four-day workweek creating an increased workload (69%) than women (58%).
- Men also worry that an abbreviated work week would mean less time for collaboration (48%) compared to women (28%).
"While longer workdays and increased workloads are significant concerns—particularly for men—the optimism surrounding automation and AI shows promise that a four-day workweek could become a reality for more workers," said Escalara. "These tools could enable employees to maintain productivity and achieve even more in a four-day workweek than in a traditional workweek."
Strategies for Boosting Productivity in a Four-Day Workweek
Surveyed workers shared the top tools and strategies they believe will support productivity in a four-day week. Top strategies include:
- Better time management or productivity tools (54%)
- Setting clearer priorities and goals (51%)
- Shifting the focus onto professional outcomes over the number of hours worked (45%)
Women put greater emphasis on fewer meetings and remote work options as productivity boosters (50% and 39%, compared to 39% and 22% for men), shedding light on how different groups prioritize work practices to improve efficiency.
Optimism About AI and Automation
Additionally, most of those polled say that they believe AI and automation will significantly improve the productivity of a four-day workweek.
- 78% believe AI or automation could enable a four-day workweek.
- Men are more optimistic (86%) about AI's role in a shortened workweek than women (71%).
For detailed insights, access the full survey results at https://www.livecareer.com/resources/livecareer-report-67-of-workers-believe-a-4-day-workweek-boosts-productivity or contact Nathan Barber at [email protected].
Methodology
The findings presented were obtained by surveying 1,130 American workers on November 27, 2024, about how they feel a four-day workweek might impact their workplace productivity. They answered different types of questions, including yes/no, open-ended, scale-based questions where respondents indicated their level of agreement with statements, and multiple-choice where they could select from a list of provided options.
About LiveCareer
LiveCareer is the premier career site empowering job seekers to find their path to professional success. Since 2005, LiveCareer has helped over 10 million workers worldwide by offering information, expert guidance, and support to boost their chances of finding a job in less time. This includes providing job seekers with resume templates to help them build stronger resumes and cover letters. LiveCareer's extensive suite of career resources also includes interview prep tools and original content to help candidates navigate their job search and target their chosen career path. Stay connected with LiveCareer's latest updates on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
LiveCareer press contact: Nathan Barber
Phone: (206) 900-2989
Media Contact
Nathan Barber, LiveCareer, (206) 900-2989, [email protected], https://www.livecareer.com/
SOURCE LiveCareer
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