Compared with other European countries Iceland ranks ninth in shift-working. In 2016, 26.1% of employees in Iceland worked shifts, which is 7.6 percentage points above the EU average. The proportion of shift-workers has increased since 2008 when it stood at 20.6%. The proportion of shift-workers was the same for men and women in 2016.
Shift-work is most prevalent among young people. In 2016, 55.8% of employees 16-24 year old worked shifts and 25.6% of employees aged 25-34. The age groups between 35 and 64 years are statistically tied around 18%. The oldest age group, 65 years and above, had the lowest proportion of people working shifts. From 2008, shift-work has increased mainly in the two youngest age groups, from 37.4% among 16-24 year olds and 18.7% among 25-34 year olds.
Employees with a university degree were least likely to work shifts. In 2016, 11% of employees 25 years old and older holding university degrees were shift-workers. The prevalence of shift-work was highest among employees who had completed secondary education, 27.5%. This educational group had also the largest increase in shift-work from 2008, when it was 19.6%. Of employees with primary education only 21.8% worked shifts.
Social indicators: Shift-work in Iceland - Statistical Series