Transport sector works the most overtime, report reveals

Amid an ongoing probe into national transport infrastructure, new research has revealed that the sector’s workforce is suffering from the highest level of overtime of any UK industry.

The Transport Secretary has confirmed the probe to uncover why British transport networks have been “brought to a standstill”, following multiple major travel disruptions in recent months, including a substation fire that temporarily shut down Heathrow and ongoing delays for HS2.

Research, conducted by the business finance experts at money.co.uk business bank accounts, has highlighted another challenge facing the sector, which could be playing a part in these wider sector issues.

Analysis of ONS data about average hours worked for a range of sectors has found that transport employees work the most overtime of any UK industry, at 5.7 hours per week on average. The agricultural, forestry and fishing sector were second with 5.6 and the electricity, gas and air conditioning supply sector were third with 4.8 hour per week of overtime on average.

Employees in the transport sector already work an average of more than 39 regular paid hours per week – more than any other industry besides mining and quarrying (39 hours and 54 minutes respectively) and higher than the national average of 36 hours and 36 minutes.

While this approach can provide short-term flexibility for businesses, it can also lead to burnout. In turn, this overworking could eventually lead to worker retention issues. 

Overall, higher levels of overtime may pose risks for businesses, particularly regarding employee well-being and operational sustainability.

Joe Phelan, money.co.uk business bank accounts expert, comments:“Attracting and retaining high-quality talent doesn’t just come down to salary – it’s also about meeting evolving expectations around working conditions.

Today’s employees are more willing to walk away from roles that don’t offer a healthy work-life balance or prioritise wellbeing. That means businesses need to offer more than just pay; they must create environments with manageable hours, flexibility, and genuine support. When companies get this right, they typically see lower staff turnover, higher engagement, and more consistent productivity, all of which feed into more stable operations and healthier cash flow. And with greater financial predictability comes the ability to plan and grow with confidence.”