In an era where work-life balance has become more than just a buzzword, the significance of vacation time has never been more pronounced. Expedia's 23rd annual Vacation Deprivation Report sheds light on what happens when people work too much with too little time off.
As the world grapples with evolving work dynamics and the looming threat of another recession, how are global citizens responding to their innate need for breaks and leisure? The report from Moneyzine.com’s analysis reveals that vacation deprivation levels are the highest globally that they’ve been in 10 years.
The data paints a vivid picture of the global workforce's sentiments. It's clear that the past year or so of growing economic instability, and perhaps a renewed focus on productivity post-pandemic, is beginning to have negative effects on working adults.
What’s particularly striking is to see industries like Airlines and Agriculture, which are seemingly worlds apart, both experiencing a 74% vacation deprivation rate. Similarly, the generational insights are telling; with Gen Z at 73% and Baby Boomers at 43%, it's clear that the yearning for leisure and time off from work spans across age groups but manifests differently.
Despite shifts in work culture recently, with the rise of trends such as quiet quitting, it’s clear that many workers across the world still feel there is a crucial imbalance across work and life.Jonathan Merry, Personal Finance Expert at Moneyzine.comJonathan Merry
Year-On-Year Changes
Globally, vacation deprivations levels are at their highest in 10 years, at 62%. While levels haven’t been this highs since 2013, there have been fluctuations - vacation deprivation levels were at their lowest in 2016, with just 49% of respondents feeling they were missing out on more travel.
Out of the population, parents feel most vacation deprived (68%), followed by urban residents (64%).
56% Brits Feel Vacation Deprived
More than 1 in 2 UK working adults reported feeling vacation deprived in 2023 - the second-highest rate seen in the past 10 years. This is nearly on par with the deprivation levels UK workers reported in 2021 (63%), which followed a year characterised by extreme travel restrictions post-pandemic, and job insecurity for many following multiple lockdowns.
The primary driving force in the United Kingdom revolves around workplace dynamics, with employees increasingly seeking flexibility from their employers. An impressive 70% of workers express a heightened motivation to switch jobs if they were afforded the opportunity to enjoy additional vacation days. Furthermore, 62% have embraced remote work as a means to maximize their annual leave allowance.
Interestingly, a significant portion of the British workforce, approximately 72%, perceives their employers as supportive when it comes to taking time off. However, a noteworthy 25% encountered challenges in the previous year, as their work schedules did not permit them to take vacations, or there was insufficient staff to manage their workloads effectively.
Nevertheless, there is a notable shift towards reducing vacation deprivation in 2023 among Brits. A striking 44% of Britons are planning to indulge in more holidays, aiming for a range of 21-30 days off, as opposed to the 29% recorded in 2022. Encouragingly, a staggering 74% of UK adults consistently prioritize holidays over other indulgences in their daily lives.
Vacation Deprivation by Country: A Global Perspective
The concept of vacation deprivation transcends borders, making it a global problem, but its intensity varies from one nation to another. The report provides a detailed country-wise breakdown, offering a unique lens to view how different cultures and economies perceive and experience this phenomenon:
Globally, 62% of working adults reported feeling vacation deprived (a 4% increase on last year’s 58%). Let’s see how this breaks down by country.
Mexico, France, and Germany Occupy The Top 3
Topping the list, a staggering 77% of Mexicans feel vacation deprived. Mexico also occupies the top three countries that received and took the fewest holiday days in 2022, at just 12.5 days used.
Surprisingly, despite their renowned work-life balance, the French are yearning for more breaks. Taking the second spot, 71% of French respondents said they felt vacation deprived in 2023.
Close behind France, 70% of Germans said they are feeling the weight of vacation deprivation. Despite this, France and Germany actually received the highest number of holiday days (28.5 days).
Vacation Deprivation Across the Globe
Elsewhere, in a number of other countries the majority of respondents reported being vacation deprived. For example, fourth on the list was Australia, which reported 65% of respondents feeling vacation deprived - with an average of 21.5 allotted holiday days but just 18 taken on average.
Potentially reflecting the infamous hustle culture within the country, 63% of Americans feel they don't get enough vacation (and with almost a third of Americans not receiving any PTO, it’s not hard to understand why). The study found that the average US adult worker is alloted just 12.5 holiday days, with just 11 taken annually - lower than any other country.
Likewise, Hong Kong and Singapore make the list of most-vacation-deprived countries, at 61% and 58% respectively. Hong Kong working adults, however, took the second-highest number of holiday days in 2022, averaging 25.5 days off.
Also in a majority for vacation deprivation were Canadian respondents, 57%, and Brits, 56%. Despite feeling vacation deprived, it is possible to maximise your annual leave in the UK by taking advantage of bank holidays - our 2023 holiday calendar demonstrates how.
At the lower end of the spectrum, only 43% of Japanese feel vacation deprived. However, this doesn't diminish the fact that a significant portion still craves more leisure time - despite the fact that Japan’s working adults used an average of 26 days annual leave in 2022.
Vacation Deprivation by Industry: Work vs Wanderlust
Beyond global variations, we can garner a glimpse into how different industry factors influence vacation deprivation across various sectors:
Airlines/Airport & Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Hunting At the forefront, 74% of individuals in these industries feel vacation deprived. Despite being in the travel industry, airline and airport workers appear to often find it challenging to take personal vacations. Similarly, the demanding nature of agriculture and related fields apparently leaves little room for extended breaks.
Oil and Gas & Food Manufacturing: Both these sectors report 67% of their workforce feeling the need for more vacations. The rigorous and often round-the-clock nature of these jobs might be a contributing factor.
Natural Resources and Mining: Close behind at 66%, workers in this sector face challenging environments and long hours, potentially being the leading cause to a heightened sense of vacation deprivation.
Retail: Interestingly, retail workers, despite their customer-facing roles and seasonal rushes, are the least deprived out of these industries at 56%.
Young Generations Feel The Most Vacation Deprivation
As one might expect, we can see considerable differences in feelings of vacation deprivation across generations. Gen Z, for example, stands out as feeling most vacation deprived - while Baby Boomers are content with their current vacation status.
Gen Z: The youngest working generation feels the most deprived, with 73% yearning for more breaks
Millennials: Following closely, 66% of millennials feel vacation deprived. Balancing burgeoning careers, family life, and societal pressures, this hard-worked generation, making up the majority of the workforce, is unsurprisingly craving more breaks.
Gen X: Representing the mid-career professionals and established family folks, 58% of Gen Xers said they are feeling the weight of vacation deprivation.
Baby Boomers: The least deprived of all, only 43% of Baby Boomers feel the need for more vacations. Whether or not this is due to being able to take a higher number of vacations (due to being retired or more financially independent, for example), or because they do not want to travel as much, is unclear.
Ultimately, these findings are a reflection of clear imbalances in the global work/life balance, although undoubtedly, some countries are striking a better balance than others.
Time off from work is something many people see as a basic right they are entitled to, not as a luxury - and the findings reflect that many individuals need to ensure they put their own needs first.
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