Millions can’t afford a holiday

New figures from the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) show that 39.7 million working people, 15% of those working in the EU, cannot afford a week’s holiday away from home.

The figures, calculated from EU statistics on income and living standards, relate to 2022 and are 2.1 million more than a year earlier.

Romania is the country where the largest proportion of workers (36%) can’t afford a week’s holiday away from home, followed by Cyprus and Greece, both on 25%, Hungary (24%). Bulgaria (23%) and Portugal (22%). In France, 12% can’t afford a week away, and in Germany 11.0%.

The biggest increases in the proportion unable to afford a holiday are in Ireland, up from 11% to 15%, France, up from 10% to 12%, and Cyprus, up from 23% to 25%.