Shop owners revealed as UK’s hardest workers
New research has revealed that shop owners work an average of 74 hours per week, the highest of any profession.
Over 330 jobs were analysed in a study to highlight those with the most demanding work-to-reward ratio – with shop owners ranking first, working an average of 74 hours a week for an hourly pay of just £12.
In the study, collated by RRC International, rankings were generated using the recent Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data, published in 2025. The 330 roles were analysed by dividing average hours worked by average pay per hour.
In response to the survey, shop owners said that while it has always been a hard-working profession, it’s the drive to be there for customers and selling products that keep them motivated.
“Staff is the highest rising cost,” said one store owner. “I’ve lost staff and I’ve not been replacing them to save on costs. It’s meant that I’m taking on the workload where possible.
“You have to manage yourself in case you break. I’m in survival mode most of the time, both mentally and physically, and my work doesn’t finish when I leave site,” they added.
“I’m thinking about the rota, wages, marketing, admin, and other business needs all the time. It’s hard to switch the hyperfocus off.”
Shop owners top list, ahead of garage managers and construction workers, while hotel managers are also in the top 10 for those who work long hours, due to the demanding nature of the hospitality industry that operates 24-7.
The top 10 list includes:
- Shop owners
- Garage managers
- Elementary construction workers
- Hotel and accommodation managers
- Quarry workers
- Farm workers
- Crane drivers
- Health care practice managers
- Forestry workers
- Managers in forestry, fishing and related services
Managing Director of RRC International, Richard Stockley said: “Our analysis has revealed an alarming trend that those working the most hours for the least pay are in roles that are physically demanding and have a potential risk to human life.
“For those managing shops, it’s not just the obvious physical hazards such as slips, trips, and falls, injuries from manual handling and overexertion that put people at risk. We know how long hours, and demanding work can lead to physical and mental fatigue.
“That’s when health and safety mistakes all too easily creep in. That’s why we encourage all those working long hours to take regular breaks where possible and seek out further training to make sure they are best equipped to spot the danger signs and handle risks in the workplace.”
