A new study reveals a troubling trend: a growing number of workers in Ireland cannot afford a week’s holiday away from home, whether domestically or internationally. This research, conducted by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), highlights a significant rise in financial barriers to taking a vacation.
Rising Costs and Falling Wages
According to the analysis of EU data for the ETUC, approximately 14.8% of Irish workers were unable to afford a week’s holiday in 2022. This figure marks a notable 3.83 percentage point increase from the previous year, making Ireland the country with the highest percentage point increase across the EU.
The 2022 data, the most recent available, suggests that the financial strain on workers has worsened. ETUC warns that the situation may have deteriorated further in 2023, following a record increase in the cost of holidays last summer and a decline in real wages across the EU due to inflation.
EU-Wide Trends
The study also notes a significant rise in the number of workers across the EU who cannot afford a holiday. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of such workers increased by over two million. The ETUC estimates that 14.6% of working people in the EU could not afford a week’s holiday in 2022, up from 13.8% in 2021.
These figures are derived from the EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) microdata, analyzed by the European Trade Union Institute. The data reflects the proportion of workers unable to afford a week’s holiday, rounded to the nearest 1,000 individuals.
Countries Most Affected
The study identifies Romania, Cyprus, and Greece as the countries with the highest proportions of workers unable to afford a holiday. These nations are facing particularly severe economic pressures that exacerbate the challenges for their working populations.
ETUC’s Perspective
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch expressed concern over these findings, emphasizing that a holiday should not be considered a luxury. “After working hard all year, working people should be able to afford a holiday,” Lynch said. “A holiday is not a luxury; having time away with family is crucial for protecting the physical and mental health of workers, as well as providing valuable experiences for children.”
Lynch argues that these figures indicate a reversal of social progress due to increased economic inequality. She advocates for raising the levels of workers covered by collective bargaining agreements as a means to ensure that workers receive a fair share of the wealth they create. “It is the best way of ensuring working people can enjoy basic benefits such as a week’s holiday rather than just struggling to survive,” she added.
Conclusion
The increasing inability of workers to afford holidays underscores a broader issue of economic disparity and declining living standards. As the cost of living continues to rise and wages fail to keep pace, more workers are finding themselves unable to enjoy even a basic week off. Addressing these issues will require concerted efforts to improve wage conditions and strengthen worker protections across the EU.