One in five European Union workers now faces dangerous heat exposure on the job, according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. The threat is concentrated in agriculture, construction, transport, and manufacturing.
Agricultural workers bear the greatest burden. Eurofound's 2024 survey shows 68% of them endure high temperatures for at least a quarter of their work time. Construction workers follow at 52%. Exposure has risen steadily, climbing from 13% of the EU workforce in 1995 to 21% in 2024.
The risk profile is deeply gendered. Thirty-four percent of men report significant heat exposure, nearly double the rate for women (18%), reflecting the male dominance in the most affected trades.
Beyond immediate health risks like heat stroke, the economic cost is mounting. An Allianz Trade report indicates productivity losses accelerate sharply above 30°C. Construction and agriculture-contributing roughly 10% of EU GDP combined-face the most disruption. Heat stresses manufacturing, buckles transport networks, and strains power grids.
The crisis is prompting calls for policy action. The European Trade Union Confederation is urging the European Commission to establish binding EU-wide rules, including maximum workplace temperatures and mandatory cooling breaks, to replace the current patchwork of national regulations.