Official Statistics

Armed forces continuous working patterns survey 2024/25: main report

Published 24 July 2025

The Continuous Working Patterns (CWP) Survey is a seven day diary completed by trained UK personnel to record the number of hours spent at work, on call, on breaks, and off duty. The aim of the survey is to measure and describe the working patterns of trained, UK regular personnel.

The publication provides results from the CWP Survey 2024/25 along with results from the previous years by Service, broad location and rank group.

1. Key Points and Trends

1.1 The average weekly hours worked by trained, UK regular personnel is 44.1 hours in 2024/25

A 1.0 hour increase compared to 2023/24.

1.2 Royal Navy personnel have the highest average weekly hours worked at 47.3 hours

Similar to last year, Royal Navy personnel reported the highest average weekly hours worked compared to other services.

Figure 1.1: Average hours worked by Service, 2024/25.

Figure 1.1 is a bar chart that shows the average hours worked by Service, in 2024/25.

1.3 The average weekly hours spent on duty by trained, UK regular personnel is 65.7 hours in 2024/25

A 3.7 hour increased compared to 2023/24.

1.4 8% Of trained UK regular personnel worked excessive hours

An increase of 4 percentage points from 2023/24 (4%).

Excessive hours refers to working more than 70 hours during the week surveyed.

1.5 The average weekly unsociable hours worked by trained, UK regular personnel is 6.1 hours in 2024/25

Similar to hours reported in 2023/24 (5.3 hours).

Unsociable hours refer to any hours worked between 18:00 and 6:00, Monday to Friday, and any hours worked on Saturday and Sunday.

1.6 The CWP survey’s valid response rate in 2024/25 was 12%.

This is similar to the response rate reported in 2023/24 (13%). The response rate excluding the deployed trial this year is 15%.

The deployed trial was carried out by sending a link for the online survey to contacts based in overseas operational locations for circulation among personnel.

Figure 1.2: Valid response rate by Service, 2024/25.

Figure 1.2 is a bar chart that shows the valid response rate of the CWP survey by Service, in 2024/25.

Responsible statistician: Surveys Head of Branch Email: Analysis-Surveys-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk

Background quality report

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1.7 Introduction

About these statistics

The Chief of Defence people (CDP) sponsors the CWP survey under a remit from the Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB).

The CWP survey 2024/25 was distributed to 26,352 trained UK Regular personnel between October 2024 to March 2025 using both online and paper questionnaires. Participants were chosen using stratified simple random sampling, designed to ensure sufficient responses from each Service and each rank group within each location.

Overall 3,215 of the returned surveys were considered valid, which represents a response rate of 12%. This is similar to the response rate reported in 2023/24 (13%). The response rate excluding the deployed trial was 15% accounting for 3,196 of the returned surveys.

Data Quality Note

CWP survey 2020/21 was in field from November 2020 to June 2021, during a time of national restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and two national lockdowns which may have influenced the results. The potential impact of COVID-19 on personnel’s working pattern should still be considered when comparing this years, 2024/25, result with previous years.

An online version of the survey was introduced in the second wave of CWP 2020/21 to improve response rates following feedback on the difficulties distributing paper questionnaires during lockdowns. Since then, the online survey is utilised in both waves and distributed to all personnel in the sample. Moreover, we carried out a trial of sending additional surveys to deployed locations to improve response rates, due to observations and feedback on difficulties in collecting responses from deployed locations. In 2019/20, unnamed batches of the survey were sent to deployed locations for distribution, in addition to the ones sent to identified deployed personnel from the main sample. From 2022/23, this was done by sending a link for the online survey to contacts based in overseas operational locations for circulation among personnel. We then sent periodic reminders to these named points of contact at these locations to encourage the distribution of the online link, to further boost response rates. Due to this method of data collection the overall response rate including the deployed trial may be an over/underestimate as we cannot be sure how many deployed personnel are at each given location at any time or have been provided access to a survey link. The response rate has been calculated based on deployed figures that were provided to us.

Although an improvement in response rate was seen in 2021/22 with the full introduction of the online survey and the introduction of the deployed surveys trial, response rates over the last three years have slowly been declining and returned to levels seen in 2020/21. We are currently working on ways we can improve this and have more personnel represented in the final sample.

Those who responded online may have different working patterns to those who responded on paper; and those responded to the deployed surveys trial might have different working patterns to the identified deployed personnel from the main sample. To better understand the possible effect on results, online responses have been analysed and compared separately as part of the analysis this year. Similarly, responses from the deployed personnel were analysed with and without the deployed trial. The main report and accompanying reference tables to this report provide the combined paper and online results and the combined results from the deployed personnel surveys trial and the main deployed personnel surveys. More detail is provided in the Background Quality Report.

1.8 About this statistical release

The CWP survey consists of a seven day diary of time spent at work, on break, on call and off duty. The following definitions are used within the questionnaire and therefore hold within this report:

Work includes:

• Normal work
• Working from home
• Duty personnel, when working
• Exercise / Operations working time
• Compulsory fitness training
• Instruction / training course
• Duty travel
• Ceremonial / hosting duties
• Service representational duties
• Secondary duties (for example Mess Treasurer)

Breaks include:

• Meal and tea breaks

On call includes:

• Held in a specified location
• On call at a place of duty
• Duty personnel, when on standby
• Period of off duty / stand down on exercise or operations
• Held at 48 hours or less Notice to Move (NTM)

Off duty includes:

• Leave (for less than 24 hours)
• Travel between home and place of duty
• Off duty / stand down (except for when on exercise / operations—see on call)

In addition, the following terminology has been used throughout this report: “On duty” refers to time spent at work, on call or on breaks. “Royal Navy” refers to the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.

Data Quality The Army Basing Programme aimed to bring all Army units back from Germany to the UK by 2020. The number of personnel based in Germany has greatly reduced since 2019/20 from a few thousand to just a few hundred.

This has greatly reduced the number of responses received from Germany. Therefore, breakdowns of Army results for Germany have not been included in this report since 2019/20. However, Germany responses have been included in the overall Army and Tri-service results.

Excel Reference tables, ODS References tables and CWP 2024/25 questionnaires are published as separate documents and can be found on the CWP webpage.

As well as providing details of the working patterns of the Services, the reference tables also provide details of the three single Service working patterns broken down by rank group and broad locations each year from the 2017/18 survey. This time series data is presented in a series of tables and graphs. Please see the Background Quality Report for full details of the survey methodology, analysis and data quality considerations.

Note: Throughout the publication, where statistical significant tests are applied in order to detect any statistical differences in working patterns between the current year (2024/25) and the previous year seven years (2023/24 – 2017/2018), a series of z-tests were conducted at a 95% confidence interval.

2. Tri-Service

2.1 Working patterns, 2024/25

In 2024/25, at a Tri-Service level, personnel reported spending on average 44.1 hours at work. This is a 1.0 hour increase compared to 2023/24 (43.1 hours). Similarly, average hours spent on call and on duty in 2024/25 saw an increase compared to the previous year (15.5 hours and 65.7 hours respectively).

Figure 2.1: Working patterns of personnel, 2024/25

Figure 2.1 is a stacked bar chart that shows the average hours spent at work, on call, breaks and off duty per week by Tri-Service personnel, in 2024/25. The largest proportion of time is spent off duty (102.0 hours).

On average personnel reported spending 44.1 hours per week at work, a 1.0 hour increase from the previous year. Personnel also reported a 2.4 hour increase in time spent on call from 13.2 hours in 2023/24 to 15.5 hours in 2024/25. Similarly, time spent on duty this year also saw a significant increase with personnel reporting 65.7 hours on duty this year compared to 62.0 hours in 2023/24; an increase of 3.7 hours.

Figure 2.2: Working patterns of all personnel by Service, 2024/25

Figure 2.2 is a stacked bar chart that shows the average hours spent at work, on call, breaks and off duty per week by Service, in 2024/25.

Royal Navy personnel reported working significantly higher hours compared to other services at 47.3 hours. Army personnel reported spending 43.4 hours and RAF personnel reported 42.8 hours. Additionally, Royal Navy personnel reported spending the highest number of hours on duty at 70.5 hours. This was followed by Army personnel at 65.6 hours and RAF personnel at 61.0 hours.

This difference is largely due to Royal Navy sea-based personnel who report considerably higher average hours worked, on call and on duty than personnel based on shore.

Figure 2.3: Working patterns of all personnel by rank group, 2024/25

Figure 2.3 is a stacked bar chart that shows average hours spent at work, on call, breaks and off duty per week by rank group, in 2024/25.

On average, Senior Officers reported the highest number of working hours at 51.0 hours. This was followed by Junior Officers at 47.5 hours and Senior Other Ranks at 44.6 hours. Junior Other Ranks reported spending the lowest average at 42.2 hours. Furthermore, Junior Officers reported spending a higher number of hours on call at 19.5 hours, compared to Senior Officers and Other Ranks. Officers reported, on average, spending a higher number of hours on duty compared to Other Ranks.

Table 2.1 Working Patterns of personnel 2023/24 - 2024/25

	At Work			On Call			On Duty
	2023/24	2024/25		2023/24	2024/25		2023/24	2024/25
Tri-service	43.1	44.1	▲	13.2	15.5	▲	62.0	65.7	▲
Royal Navy	44.7	47.3	▲	19.1	17.8		69.1	70.5
Army	43.0	43.4		10.1	15.4	▲	59.5	65.6	▲
RAF	41.6	42.8	▲	14.7	13.5		61.0	61.0
Senior Officers	50.3	51.0		15.6	15.2		70.3	70.6
Junior Officers	46.5	47.5	▲	19.0	19.5		71.5	71.8
Senior Other Ranks/Rates	44.7	44.6		16.8	14.5	▼	67.4	65.7
Junior Other Ranks/Rates	40.6	42.2	▲	10.3	15.3	▲	56.9	63.8	▲

Key

▲ Significant increase from 2023/24

▼ Significant decrease from 2023/24

At a Tri-Service level, the average number of hours spent working, on call and on duty in 2024/25 has significantly increased compared to figures reported in the previous year.

At a service level, Royal Navy (47.3 hours) and RAF (42.8 hours) personnel reported an increase in working hours in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24. Army personnel reported a significant increase in their hours spent on call and on duty in 2024/25 (15.4 hours and 65.6 hours respectively).

Within rank groups, Junior Other Ranks reported an increase in hours spent at work (42.2 hours), on call (15.3 hours), and on duty (63.8 hours). Junior Officers also reported a 1.0 hour increase this year in average hours spent at work (47.5 hours). Senior Other Ranks reported spending 14.5 hours on call, a decrease of 2.3 hours compared to the previous year.

2.2 Unsociable hours worked by personnel, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Unsociable hours are described as:

• Any hours worked between 18:00 and 6:00, Monday to Friday

• Any hours worked on Saturday and Sunday

In 2024/25, personnel reported working, on average, 6.1 unsociable hours per week. This has remained relatively consistent since 2017/18. There are also no changes in the average number of unsociable hours worked at the single service level this year compared to the previous year.

Figure 2.4 Unsociable hours worked by Service, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 2.4 is a line chart showing average unsociable hours worked between 2017/18 and 2024/25 by Tri-Service, Navy, Army and RAF personnel.

Royal Navy personnel continue to report the highest number of unsociable hours worked at 9.9 hours compared to other services. This may be due to sea-based personnel having additional duties that require them to spend extra hours at work during unsociable hours.

2.3 Excessive hours worked ¹ and spent on duty, 2024/25

Excessive hours. The proportion of personnel who worked more than 70 hours during the week surveyed.

Section 2.3 is based on the 1,714 regular personnel for whom a full week’s data was available in 2024/25 (53% of all valid responses).

Overall, 8% of personnel worked more than 70 hours per week.

The Royal Navy reported 17% of personnel working excessive hours. This was 6% for Army personnel and 3% for RAF.

9% of Junior Officers reported spending excessive hours at work, this was 8% of Senior Officers and Junior Other Ranks. Senior Other Ranks reported 6%.

Figure 2.5: Proportion of personnel spending more than 70 hours on duty for the week surveyed by Service, 2024/25

Figure 2.5 consists of 4 doughnut charts split into two segments highlighting proportion of personnel spending more than 70 hours on duty for the week surveyed by service, in 2024/25.

On average, at a Tri-Service level, 28% of personnel reported spending excessive hours on duty.

At a single service level, over a third of Royal Navy personnel (36%) reported excessive hours on duty. This is most likely due to Royal Navy personnel being away at sea and having additional duties.

Data Quality. The results in this section are based on a subset of respondents. As such, levels of precision are likely to be lower (wider confidence intervals) and are intended as an indication of the average working week.

Figure 2.6: Distribution of hours on duty of personnel by rank group, 2024/25

Figure 2.6 is a 100% stacked bar chart showing the distribution of hours on duty for Tri-Service personnel by rank group, in 2024/25.

Half of all Junior Other Ranks reported spending under 50 hours per week on duty (50%), while 28% of Senior Officers reported the same.

A third of Junior Officers (33%) reported spending excessive hours on duty, this was 28% for Senior Officers and Junior Other Ranks. 26% of Senior Other Ranks reported spending excessive hours on duty.

1. Please note time spent at work refers to time personnel spend carrying out normal work duties (Please see section 1.8 for a full definition of what this includes). While time spent on duty is a calculation of all time personnel spend at work, on call and on breaks.

2.4 Time series of working patterns, 2017/18 - 2024/25

At a Tri-Service level personnel reported spending 44.1 hours per week working, this is a 1.0 hour increase compared to the previous year and now brings figures back in line with hours reported in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Similarly, time spent on call has increased this year by 2.4 hours compared to the last, with personnel now spending 15.5 hours on call. This is back in line with figures reported in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Time spent on duty also increased this year compared to the previous year with personnel now spending on average 65.7 hours on duty, an increase of 3.7 hours.

Figure 2.7: Comparison of average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty by Service, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 2.7 consists of 4 line graphs showing the average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty for Tri-Service, Navy, Army and RAF personnel between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

At a Tri-Service level there was an increase in overall hours worked this year compared to the previous year. This now brings the average hours reported back in line with 2021/22 and 2022/23. This is also the same for the RAF. The Royal Navy also saw an increase in average hours worked in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24 however, this figure is significantly less than hours that were being reported in 2021/22 and 2022/23, bringing the figures back in line with 2019/20 and 2020/21.

Time spent on call at the Tri-Service level this year also saw an increase, with personnel on average spending 15.5 hours on call. This increase may be driven by Army personnel who reported a 5.3 hour increase, averaging 15.4 hours on call this year compared to 10.1 hours in the previous; this is the highest figure reported by Army personnel since 2021/22. Hours spent on call by Navy and RAF personnel have remained consistent since 2022/23.

Army personnel reported an increase in overall hours spent on duty this year, at 65.6 hours, this is now back in line with figures reported between 2019/20 - 2020/21. Similarly, there is an increase in the average hours spent on duty at the Tri-Service level, bringing the figures back in line with 2019/20 - 2022/23 (ranging between 65.4 hours to 67.0 hours). Following a decrease in 2022/23 the average number of hours spent on duty by RAF personnel has remained unchanged (61.0 hours in 2024/25).

Figure 2.8: Comparison of average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty by rank group, 2017/18- 2024/25

Figure 2.8 consists of 4 line graphs showing the average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty for Senior Officers, Junior Officers, Senior Other Ranks/Rates and Junior Other Ranks/Rates between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

Following an increase in 2023/24, the average number of hours spent working by Senior Officers remains unchanged this year (51.0 hours). Junior Officers reported an increase this year in the number of hours worked, on average spending 47.5 hours per week working compared to the previous year; this is back in line with figures reported between 2017/18 to 2022/23 (ranging between 47.1 hours to 47.7 hours). The average hours reported by Senior Other Ranks remains unchanged in 2024/25 compared to the previous year (44.6 hours and 44.7 hours respectively). Junior Other Ranks also reported an increase this year (42.2 hours), bringing the figure back in line with 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The average number of hours Officers spent on call this year remains unchanged compared to the previous year; for Junior Officers this is a seven year high (19.5 hours). Junior Other Ranks reported an increase in time spent on call. This now brings the figures back in line with figures reported in 2021/22 and 2022/23. Senior Other Ranks reported a decrease this year in average hours spent on call compared to the previous (14.5 hours and 16.8 hours respectively); this brings the figures back in line with hours reported between 2020/21 – 2022/23 (ranging between 14.6 hours and 15.8 hours).

Time spent on duty remains unchanged for Officers and Senior Other Ranks compared to the previous year. Junior Other Ranks saw an increase of 7.0 hours for time spent on duty this year (63.8 hours) compared to the previous; this is now back in line with figures reported between 2019/20 and 2022/23 (ranging between 63.6 hours and 63.5 hours).

3. The Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is comprised of the Royal Navy (including Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service) and the Royal Marines.

3.1 Royal Navy working patterns, 2024/25

In 2024/25, Royal Navy personnel reported on average spending 47.3 hours per week at work, a 2.6 hour increase compared to the previous year. During the same time period the average number of hours spent on call and on duty remain unchanged (17.8 hours and 70.5 hours respectively).

Figure 3.1: Royal Navy personnel working patterns by location, 2024/25

Figure 3.1 shows a stacked bar chart showing the average hours Royal Navy personnel spent at work, on call, on breaks and off duty by location, in 2024/25.

In 2024/25, sea-based personnel spent significantly more hours at work, on call and on duty compared to shore-based personnel, this is the same as 2023/24. Both sea-based personnel and shore-based personnel reported an increase in the average hours spent at work in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24 (62.1 hours and 42.9 hours respectively). Sea-based personnel reported spending 31.3 hours on call and 100.9 hours on duty, this remains unchanged compared to last year. Shore-based personnel reported spending 13.8 hours on call and 61.6 hours on duty in 2024/25, this also remains unchanged.

Figure 3.2: Royal Navy personnel working patterns by rank group, 2024/25

Figure 3.2 shows a stacked bar chart showing the average hours Royal Navy personnel spent at work, on call, on breaks and off duty by rank group, in 2024/25.

Senior Officers reported spending 49.5 hours per week at work, Junior Officers reported 48.9 hours. Senior Other Ranks (46.3 hours) reported spending less hours at work compared to Officers. Junior Other Ranks reported a 5.2 hour increase in hours spent at work this year (46.9 hours). Senior Other Ranks reported an 8.7 hour decrease in time spent on call in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24 (18.1 hours and 26.8 hours respectively). Junior Other Ranks reported spending 15.7 hours per week on call in 2024/25, this is significantly less than figures reported by Officers (21.7 hours for Senior Officers and 23.1 hours for Junior Officers respectively). Officers reported significantly higher hours on duty compared to Other Ranks.

Table 3.1: Working patterns of Royal Navy personnel, 2023/24 - 2024/25

	At Work			On Call			On Duty
	2023/24	2024/25		2022/23	2023/24		2022/23	2023/24
Royal Navy	44.7	47.3	▲	19.1	17.8		69.1	70.5
Sea	58.0	62.1	▲	35.0	31.3		99.3	100.9
Shore	40.3	42.9	▲	14.0	13.8		59.2	61.6
Senior Officers	49.3	49.5		20.0	21.7		73.6	76.1
Junior Officers	48.8	48.9		24.3	23.1		78.9	76.9
Senior Other Ranks/Rates	47.3	46.3		26.8	18.1	▼	79.4	69.9	▼
Junior Other Ranks/Rates	41.7	46.9	▲	14.5	15.7		61.7	68.2	▲

Key

▲ Significant increase from 2023/24

▼ Significant decrease from 2023/24

Sea-based and shore-based personnel both reported an increase in average hours worked, this is also true for Junior Other Ranks, this could be the driving force behind the overall increase in hours worked by Royal Navy personnel.

Senior Other Ranks reported an 8.7 hour decrease in average hours spent on call this year compared to last year (18.1 hours and 26.8 hours respectively).

Senior Other Ranks also saw a decrease in average time spent on duty by 9.4 hours with personnel reporting spending 69.9 hours on duty. Junior Other Ranks reported an increase this year of 6.6 hours with personnel now spending 68.2 hours on duty.

Figure 3.3: Working patterns of Royal Navy Senior Other Ranks, 2023/24 - 2024/25

Figure 3.3 is a bar chart showing the average hours Senior Other Ranks in the Royal Navy spent at work, on call and on duty in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

In 2024/25, Senior Other Ranks reported spending significantly less hours on call and on duty this year compared to the previous year; a decrease of 8.7 hours and 9.4 hours per week. Average hours spent at work remains unchanged in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24.

3.2 Royal Navy excessive hours worked ¹ and spent on duty, 2024/25

Section 3.2 is based on 380 Royal Navy personnel for whom a full week’s data was available (49% of all valid responses).

Excessive hours. The proportion of personnel who worked 70 hours or more during the week surveyed.

Overall, 17% of Royal Navy personnel worked more than 70 hours per week.

Excessive hours worked differs greatly by location with 51% of sea-based personnel spending excessive hours at work compared to 7% of shore-based personnel.

3.4 Proportion of Royal Navy personnel spending more than 70 hours on duty for the week surveyed by location, 2024/25

Figure 3.4 consists of 3 doughnut charts split into two segments highlighting proportion of personnel spending more than 70 hours on duty for the week surveyed by location, in 2024/25.

In 2024/25, on average 36% of Royal Navy personnel spent more than 70 hours per week on duty. This differs by location with 77% of sea-based personnel spending more than 70 hours per week on duty and 24% of shore-based personnel.

Data Quality. The results in this section are based on a subset of respondents. As such, levels of precision are likely to be lower (wider confidence intervals) and are intended as an indication of the average working week of Royal Navy personnel.

Figure 3.5: Distribution of hours on duty of Royal Navy personnel, 2024/25

Figure 3.5 is a 100% stacked bar chart showing the distribution of hours on duty for Royal Navy personnel by rank group, in 2024/25.

Just over four in ten (41%) Junior Officers reported spending under 50 hours per week on duty while just under a third (32%) of all Senior Officers reported the same.

Junior Officers had the highest proportion of personnel report spending over 70 hours per week on duty (41%) while Senior Other Ranks had the lowest (35%).

1. Please note time spent at work refers to time personnel spend carrying out normal work duties (Please see section 1.8 for a full definition of what this includes). While time spent on duty is a calculation of all time personnel spend at work, on call and on breaks.

3.3 Time series of Royal Navy working patterns, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 3.6: Average weekly hours Royal Navy personnel spent at work, on call and on duty, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 3.6 is a line chart that shows the average time spent at work, on call and on duty by Royal Navy personnel between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

The average hours spent at work increased in 2024/25, with personnel spending on average 47.3 hours per week working, an increase of 2.6 hours compared to 2023/24. This, however, remains below the figures reported in 2021/22 and 2022/23. This is now back in line with figures reported in 2019/20 and 2020/21.

The average hours spent on call remains unchanged since 2022/23, with personnel reporting spending 17.8 hours per week on call. This remains below figures reported in 2020/21 and 2021/22 when personnel were reporting the highest average number of hours spent on call.

Average hours reported on duty remain unchanged this year compared to the previous year (70.5 hours and 69.1 hours respectively). However, this is significantly below hours that were being reported between 2020/21 – 2022/23, bringing figures back in line with 2019/20.

Figure 3.7: Average weekly hours Royal Navy personnel spent at work, on call and on duty by location, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 3.7 is a line chart that shows the average time Royal Navy personnel spent at work, on call and on duty by location between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

Sea-based and shore-based personnel have a similar pattern over the last eight years for time spent at work; this year both sea-based and shore-based personnel saw significant increases in average time spent working compared to the previous year. This brings figures back in line with 2021/22.

The average hours spent on call by sea-based personnel in 2024/25 remains unchanged compared to 2023/24. Similarly, shore-based personnel did not report a change in their overall hours spent on call in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24. For shore-based personnel, time spent on call since 2017/18 has remained relatively stable, excluding 2020/21 and 2021/22 when the survey was in field during periods of national lockdown and personnel reported some of their highest and lowest figures.

Time spent on duty by both sea-based and shore-based personnel did not see any significant changes this year. For sea-based personnel this is in line with figures personnel were reporting between 2019/20 – 2021/22 (ranging between 98.0 hours to 105.0 hours).

Figure 3.8: Average weekly hours Royal Navy Officers spent at work, on call and on duty by rank group, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 3.8 is a line chart that shows the average time Royal Navy personnel spent at work, on call and on duty for Senior Officers and Junior Officers between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

The average hours worked by Senior Officers has fluctuated over the years. However, following a decline in 2023/24, average hours worked in 2024/25 remain unchanged since. Junior Officers reported working on average 48.9 hours per week this year, this remains unchanged.

Senior Officers reported spending 21.7 hours per week on call in 2024/25, this remains unchanged since last year. However, this is a 6.5 hour increase from 2022/23, when personnel reported the lowest figures and a 6.5 hour decrease from 2021/22 when personnel reported some of the highest figures. The average hours spent on call by Junior Officers remains unchanged since 2018/19 (ranging between 20.5 hours to 25.8 hours).

Following a decline in 2022/23 the average hours spent on duty by Senior Officers this year (76.1 hours) remains unchanged. This is following 2019/20 – 2021/22 when Senior Officers were reporting some of the highest figures for time spent on duty. The average hours spent on duty by Junior Officers has remained relatively stable over the last eight years, excluding 2018/19 when personnel reported the highest average hours spent on duty.

Figure 3.9: Average weekly hours Royal Navy Other Ranks/Rates spent at work, on call and on duty by rank group, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 3.9 is a line chart that shows the average time Royal Navy personnel spent at work, on call and on duty for Senior Other Ranks/Rates and Junior Other Ranks/Rates between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

Senior Other Ranks reported working 46.3 hours in 2024/25, this remains unchanged compared to last year. This is significantly below figures reported in 2022/23 and 2021/22 but brings the figures back in line with 2020/21 and 2019/20. Junior Other Ranks reported an increase of 5.2 hours in time spent at work this year (46.9 hours). This is now back in line with figures reported between 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Senior Other Ranks reported an 8.7 hour decrease in average hours spent on call this year (18.1 hours), compared to the previous year where personnel reported the highest average hours spent on call (26.8 hours). This is back in line with figures that were reported between 2018/19 to 2022/23 (ranging between 19.1 hours to 20.9 hours). Following its peak in 2020/21 (29.2 hours), the average hours spent on call by Junior Other Ranks has decreased, with personnel spending on average 15.7 hours per week on call in 2024/25.

Much like time spent on call, time spent on duty has decreased for Senior Other Ranks, with personnel spending 69.9 hours per week on duty this year, a decrease of 9.4 hours compared the previous year. This brings the figure back in line with 2022/23 (72.9 hours). The average hours reported by Junior Other Ranks on duty has varied over the last eight years. This year personnel reported spending 68.2 hours on duty, this is a 6.6 hour increase compared to 2023/24 (61.7 hours), and a 4.4 hour decrease compared to 2022/23 (72.6 hours). 2019/20 is the only year where personnel reported working similar hours to this year (66.7 hours).

4. The Army

4.1 Army working patterns, 2024/25

In 2024/25, Army personnel on average spent 43.4 hours at work, this remains unchanged from 2023/24 (43.0 hours). Time spent on call and on duty in 2024/25 saw an increase compared to the previous year with personnel spending an additional 5.3 hours on call and 6.1 hours on duty (15.4 hours and 65.6 hours respectively).

Figure 4.1: Army personnel working patterns, 2024/25

Figure 4.1 is a stacked bar chart that shows average hours spent at work, on call, on breaks and off duty by Army personnel in 2024/25. The largest proportion of time is spent off duty (102.1hours).

On average Army personnel reported spending 43.4 hours per week working, this has remained consistent over the last three cycles of the survey. The average time Army personnel reported spending on call this year is 15.4 hours, an increase from 10.1 hours in 2023/24. During the same period time spent on duty by Army personnel has also increased from 59.5 hours in 2023/24 to 65.6 hours in 2024/25.

Figure 4.2: Army personnel working patterns by location, 2024/25

Figure 4.2 is a bar chart that shows average hours Army personnel spent at work, on call, on breaks and off duty by location in 2024/25.

Army personnel based on Overseas Operations reported working significantly more hours than other locations at 55.5 hours per week. They also reported the highest average hours spent on call (55.8 hours) and on duty (119.8 hours). Personnel based in the UK reported working 43.0 hours and Elsewhere abroad reported 43.3 hours.

Germany. The Army Basing Programme led to a reduction of personnel in Germany in 2020. As a result, breakdowns for Germany have not been included in this report since 2019/20. However, Germany responses are still included in the overall Army figures.

Figure 4.3: Army personnel working patterns by rank group, 2024/25

Figure 4.3 is a bar chart that shows average hours Army personnel spent at work, on call, on breaks and off duty by rank group in 2024/25.

Senior Officers reported the highest average hours worked at 52.6 hours, this was followed by Junior Officers (49.5 hours) and Senior Other Ranks (44.0 hours). Junior Other Ranks reported working the least amount of hours (41.1 hours). Junior Officers reported spending significantly higher hours on call (21.1 hours) and on duty (75.8 hours) compared to all other rank groups. Junior Other Ranks reported spending the least amount of hours on duty (63.3 hours).

Table 4.1: Working patterns of Army personnel, 2023/24 - 2024/25

	At Work			On Call			On Duty
	2022/23	2023/24		2022/23	2023/24		2022/23	2023/24
Army	43.0	43.4		10.1	15.4	▲	59.5	65.6	▲
United Kingdom	42.6	43.0		8.4	14.5	▲	57.5	64.6	▲
Overseas Operations	54.1	55.5		42.4	55.8	▲	104.7	119.8	▲
Elsewhere Abroad	44.8	43.3		24.9	13.3	▼	75.2	62.1	▼
Senior Officers	51.3	52.6	▲	14.0	12.7		70.3	69.9
Junior Officers	47.8	49.5	▲	17.0	21.1	▲	71.8	75.8	▲
Senior Other Ranks	44.0	44.0		13.6	14.8		66.4	66.7
Junior Other Ranks	41.0	41.1		7.4	15.2	▲	54.7	53.3	▲

Key

▲ Significant increase from 2023/24

▼ Significant decrease from 2023/24

Overall, the average hours reported by Army personnel at work this year remains unchanged compared to the previous. However, Officers reported an increase this year; Senior Officers saw an increase of 1.4 hours in 2024/25, with personnel now averaging 52.6 hours per week at work. Junior Officers saw an increase of 1.6 hours this year, with personnel spending 49.5 hours per week working.

Average hours spent on call by Army personnel has seen an increase of 5.3 hours this year, going from 10.1 hours in 2023/24 to 15.4 hours in 2024/25. This may be due to personnel based in the UK and on Overseas Operations reporting a significant increase in time spent on call compared to the previous year (14.5 hours and 55.8 hours respectively). It also may be influenced by Junior Officers and Junior Other Ranks who also reported a significant increase this year in time spent on call (21.1 hours and 15.2 hours respectively).

Similarly, hours spent on duty this year by Army personnel has seen a significant increase in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24 (65.6 hours and 59.5 hours respectively). This may be driven by the changes seen in UK based personnel who reported a 7.0 hour increase or personnel based on Overseas Operations who reported a 15.2 hour increase (64.4 hours and 119.8 hours respectively). Similarly, Junior Officers and Junior Other Ranks reported an increase in overall time spent on duty which may also be the driving force behind these changes (75.8 hours and 63.3 hours respectively).

Personnel based Elsewhere abroad where the only group to report a decrease with time spent on call and on duty seeing significant changes. Average hours spent on call saw a 11.6 hour decrease while on duty fell by 13.0 hours (13.3 hours and 62.1 hours respectively).

Figure 4.4: Working patterns of Junior Officers in the Army, 2023/24 - 2024/25

Figure 4.4 is a bar chart showing the average hours Junior Officers in the Army spend at work, on call and on duty in 2023/24 and 2024/25. The bars show a significant increase for average hours spent at work, on call and on duty.

Junior Officers reported spending significantly more hours at work, on call and on duty in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24; as well as reporting spending significantly more hours at work, on call and on duty compared to all other rank groups. Hours worked saw an increase of 1.6 hours, with personnel spending 49.5 hours working in 2024/25 compared to 47.8 in 2023/24.

4.2 Army excessive hours worked ¹ and spent on duty, 2024/25

Section 4.2 is based on the 748 Army personnel for whom a full week’s data was available (54% of all valid responses).

Excessive hours. Personnel who worked 70 hours or more during the week surveyed.

Overall, 6% of personnel spent more than 70 hours per week at work.

19% of Army personnel deployed on Overseas Operations reported working excessive hours, this was 6% for personnel based in the United Kingdom and 0% for Elsewhere abroad.

Figure 4.5: Proportion of Army personnel spending more than 70 hours on duty for the week surveyed by location, 2024/25

Figure 4.5 consists of 4 doughnut charts split into two segments highlighting proportion of personnel spending more than 70 hours on duty for the week surveyed by location, in 2024/25.

In 2024/25, 27% of Army personnel reported spending 70 or more hours on duty per week. 75% of personnel deployed on Overseas Operations reported spending excessive hours on duty, this was 26% for personnel based in the United Kingdom and 25% for Elsewhere abroad.

Differences in time spent on duty may be partly due to the greater amount of time deployed personnel spend on call. Periods of off duty/stand down when on exercise or Operation are defined as time on call.

Data Quality Note. The results in this section are based on a subset of respondents. As such, levels of precision are likely to be lower (wider confidence intervals) and are an indication of the working week of Army personnel.

Figure 4.6: Distribution of hours on duty for Army personnel by rank group, 2024/25

Figure 4.6 is a 100% stacked bar chart showing the distribution of hours on duty for Army personnel by rank group, in 2024/25.

Junior Other Ranks has the highest proportion of personnel report spending under 50 hours per week on duty at 51%; Senior Officers had the smallest proportion (25%)

Junior Officers has the highest proportion of personnel report spending over 70 hours per week on duty (37%), this was followed by Junior Other Ranks (27%) and Senior Officers (25%). Senior Other Ranks has the smallest proportion (24%).

1. Please note time spent at work refers to time personnel spend carrying out normal work duties (Please see section 1.8 for a full definition of what this includes). While time spent on duty is a calculation of all time personnel spend at work, on call and on breaks.

4.3 Time series of Army working patterns 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 4.7: Army average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 4.7 is a line chart that shows the average time spent at work, on call and on duty by Army personnel between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

Following an increase in 2021/22, the average hours spent at work by Army personnel has remained unchanged since, with personnel reporting working 43.4 hours per week in 2024/25.

In 2023/24, Army personnel reported one of their lowest figures for hours spent on call (10.5 hours), since then there has been an increase by 4.9 hours, with personnel spending 15.4 hours on call in 2024/25. This is back in line with figures that were being reported between 2019/20 – 2022/23 (ranging between 13.6 hours to 17.9 hours).

Average hours spent on duty in 2024/25 has increased compared to the previous two years, with personnel on average spending 65.6 hours per week on duty. This brings the figure back in line with 2019/20 – 2021/22.

Figure 4.8 Army average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty by location, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 4.8 is a line chart that shows the average time Army personnel spent at work, on call and on duty by location between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

Since 2021/22, the average hours worked by personnel based in the UK and Elsewhere abroad has remained unchanged (43.0 hours and 43.3 hours respectively), while for personnel on Overseas Operations this has remained unchanged since 2022/23 (55.5 hours).

In 2023/24 personnel based in the UK reported their lowest figures for time spent on call (14.5 hours), this has increased by 6.1 hours in 2024/25 (14.5 hours). This is now back in line with figures reported between 2019/20 – 2022/23. Following an increase in 2023/24, time spent on call by personnel based on Overseas Operations remains unchanged this year. Average hours spent on call by personnel based Elsewhere abroad has fluctuated over the years, with personnel reporting their lowest figure for time spent on call this year (13.3 hours), this is following 2023/24 when they reported the highest (26.0 hours).

UK based personnel reported spending 64.4 hours per week on duty this year, a significant increase compared to 2023/24 and 2022/23 (57.5 hours and 62.0 hours respectively). This brings the figure back in line with 2019/20 – 2021/22. Personnel based on Overseas Operations reported their highest figure for time spent on duty (119.8 hours), however this is not significantly different to the previous year (112.7 hours). Average hours spent on duty by personnel based Elsewhere abroad has fluctuated over the years, with personnel reporting their lowest hours spent on duty this year (62.1 hours). This is significantly lower than all figures between 2017/18 and 2023/24, excluding 2020/21.

Figure 4.9: Army average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty by Officers, 2017/18 -2024/25

Figure 4.9 is a line chart that shows the average time Army personnel spent at work, on call and on duty for Senior Officers and Junior Officers between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

Senior Officers reported working on average 52.6 hours per week in 2024/25, this is a significant increase compared to the previous year, this is back in line with figures that were reported in 2017/18 – 2019/20. Junior Officers also reported a significant increase in hours spent at work this year (49.5 hours) compared to 2023/24 and 2022/23. This brings the figure back in line with 2021/22.

Average hours spent on call by Senior Officers this year remains unchanged compared to the previous. However, this is a 4.4 hour decrease compared to 2022/23, when Senior Officers reported their highest figure for time spent on call. Junior Officers reported their highest time spent on call this year (21.1 hours), this is significantly higher than all figures reported between 2018/19 and 2023/24. This brings the figure back in line with 2017/18.

Average hours spent on duty in 2024/25 remains unchanged for Senior Officers compared to 2023/24. However, this is a 4.3 hour decrease compared to 2022/23. Since 2017/18, the average time spent on duty by Junior Officers has fluctuated with Junior Officers reporting their highest average hours spent on duty this year. This is a 4.1 hour increase from 2023/24 and a 9.1 hour increase from 2022/23, when personnel reported the lowest hours spent on duty (66.7 hours).

Figure 4.10: Army average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty by Other Ranks, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 4.10 is a line chart that shows the average time Army personnel spent at work, on call and on duty for Senior Other Ranks and Junior Other Ranks between 2017/18 - 2024/25.

The average hours spent working by Senior Other Ranks has remained relatively stable since 2017/18, excluding 2020/21, where personnel reported their lowest figure worked. This may be due to the survey being out during a national lockdown. Since then, the figures have returned back to normal and have remained relatively unchanged. Much like Senior Other Ranks, Junior Other Ranks have reported similar hours for time spent at work, with 2018/19 and 2020/21 being the only notable differences.

The average hours spent on call by Senior Other Ranks remains relatively unchanged since 2021/22, with personnel reporting spending 14.8 hours per week on call in 2024/25. Following from 2023/24 when Junior Other Ranks reported their lowest hours worked, this year they have reported a significant increase, with personnel spending an additional 7.3 hours on call (15.2 hours). This brings the figure back in line with 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Much like time spent on call, the average hours spent on duty by Senior Other Ranks remains unchanged since 2021/22. Time spent on duty for Junior Other Ranks has increased this year by 7.8 hours, this is now back in line with figures reported in 2019/20 – 2022/23.

5. The RAF

5.1 RAF working patterns 2024/25

On average in 2024/25, RAF personnel reported spending 42.8 hours per week working. This is a 1.2 hour increase compared to 2023/24. Average hours spent on call and on duty this year have remained unchanged compared to the previous year (13.5 hours and 61.0 hours respectively).

Figure 5.1: RAF working patterns, 2024/25

Figure 5.1 is a stacked bar chart that shows the average hours spent at work, on call, breaks and off duty per week by RAF personnel, in 2024/25. The largest proportion of time is spent off duty (106.8 hours).

In 2024/25 RAF personnel reported spending 42.8 hours per week working, this is a significant increase compared to the previous year, however, this is now back in line with figures reported in 2022/23. Time spent on call this year was 13.5 hours, this remains unchanged since 2019/20. Average hours on duty have remained unchanged since 2022/23.

Figure 5.2: RAF working patterns by location, 2024/25

Figure 5.2 is a stacked bar chart that shows average hours spent at work, on call, breaks and off duty per week by location for RAF personnel, in 2024/25.

Personnel based on Overseas Operations reported spending the highest amount of hours per week at work (55.4 hours), this was followed by personnel based Elsewhere abroad (45.5 hours). UK based personnel reported spending the lowest amount of hours per week at work (42.2 hours). This is the same for hours spent on call and on duty.

Figure 5.3: RAF working patterns by rank group, 2024/25

Figure 5.3 is a stacked bar chart that shows average hours spent at work, on call, breaks and off duty per week by rank group for RAF personnel, in 2024/25.

Senior Officers reported spending the highest amount of hours at work (49.5 hours). Junior Other Ranks reported the least (40.4 hours). Senior Other Ranks reported the lowest amount of hours on call at 10.3 hours per week. There are no other significant differences in time spent on call between rank groups. Senior Officers also reported the highest amount of hours spent on duty (66.3 hours).

Table 5.1 Working patterns of RAF personnel by rank group, 2023/24 - 2024/25

	At Work			On Call			On Duty
	2023/24	2024/25		2023/24	2024/25		2023/24	2024/25
RAF	41.6	42.8	▲	14.7	13.5		61.0	61.0
United Kingdom	41.0	42.2	▲	13.7	12.0		59.4	58.9
Overseas Operations	50.7	55.4	▲	49.6	55.0		105.8	115.3	▲
Elsewhere Abroad	44.9	45.4		15.8	16.9		65.0	68.7
Senior Officers	49.4	49.5		14.2	13.1		67.1	66.3
Junior Officers	42.7	43.3		17.7	14.0	▼	64.8	61.5	▼
Senior Other Ranks	43.7	44.1		14.2	10.3	▼	62.4	59.1	▼
Junior Other Ranks	38.5	40.4	▲	14.3	14.9		57.9	60.6

Key

▲ Significant increase from 2023/24

▼ Significant decrease from 2023/24

Personnel based in the UK and Overseas Operations reported an increase this year in average hours spent at work (42.2 hours and 55.4 hours respectively). This may be the driving force behind the overall increase in average hours worked by RAF personnel. Junior Other Ranks also reported an increase in average hours worked by 1.9 hours in 2024/25 compared to the previous year.

The overall average hours on call remain unchanged this year compared to the previous year. However, Junior Officers and Senior Other Ranks reported a decrease in their hours spent on call this year compared to last year (14.0 hours and 10.3 hours respectively).

Overall time spent on duty has also remained unchanged this year. In line with time spent on call, time spent on duty by Junior Officers and Senior Other Ranks also saw a decrease this year (61.5 hours and 59.1 hours). Other notable changes this year include personnel based on Overseas Operation who reported an increase in their overall time spent on duty (115.3 hours).

Figure 5.4: Working patterns of RAF Junior Officers, 2023/24 - 2024/25

Figure 5.4 is a bar chart that shows average hours spent at work, on call and on duty by RAF Junior Officers in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

In 2024/25, RAF Junior Officers reported working 43.3 hours per week, this remains unchanged compared to the 42.7 hours reported in 2023/24. Time spent on call saw a decrease of 3.7 hours going from 17.7 hours in 2023/24 to 14.0 hours in 2024/25. Likewise, time spent on duty also saw a decrease in 2024/25 compared to 2024/23, with personnel reporting spending 3.3 hours less per week on duty (61.5 hours and 64.8 hours respectively).

5.2 RAF excessive hours worked ¹ and spent on duty, 2024/25

Section 5.2 is based on the 586 RAF personnel for whom a full week’s data was available (56% of all valid responses).

Excessive hours. Personnel who worked 70 hours or more during the week surveyed.

Overall, 3% of RAF personnel worked excessive hours in 2024/25.

Excessive hours worked differs by location with 16% of personnel on Overseas Operations reporting working excessive hours, this was 3% for personnel based in the United Kingdom and 2% for Elsewhere abroad.

Figure 5.5: Proportion of RAF personnel spending more than 70 hours on duty for the week surveyed by location in 2024/25

Figure 5.5 consists of 4 doughnut charts split into two segments highlighting the proportion of personnel spending more than 70 hours on duty for the week surveyed by location, in 2024/25.

A higher proportion of personnel based on Overseas Operations report spending excessive hours on duty (80%). For personnel based Elsewhere abroad this is 31% and for the UK this is 20%.

This difference may be due to personnel deployed on Overseas Operations spending significantly more time on call (55.0 hours) compared to other locations. Periods of off duty/stand down when on exercise or operation are defined as time on call.

Data Quality Note. The results in this section are based on a subset of respondents. As such, levels of precision are likely to be lower (wider confidence intervals) and are an indication of the working week of RAF personnel

Figure 5.6: Distribution of hours on duty of RAF personnel by rank group, 2024/25

Figure 5.6 is a 100% stacked bar chart showing the distribution of hours on duty for RAF personnel by rank group, in 2024/25.

Senior Other Ranks and Junior Other Ranks had the highest proportions of personnel report spending under 50 hours per week on duty (62% and 61% respectively). This was followed by Junior Officers (54%). Senior Officers reported the lowest proportion at 30%.

Junior Other Ranks and Senior Officers had the highest proportions of personnel report spending over 70 hours per week on duty (24% and 23% respectively), followed by Junior Officers (21%). Senior Other Ranks had the lowest proportion (19%).

1. Please note time spent at work refers to time personnel spend carrying out normal work duties (Please see section 1.8 for a full definition of what this includes). While time spent on duty is a calculation of all time personnel spend at work, on call and on breaks.

5.3 Time series of RAF working patterns, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 5.7: RAF average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 5.7 is a line chart that shows the average time spent at work, on call and on duty by RAF personnel between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

Overall, the average hours worked by RAF personnel has seen a significant increase this year, with personnel now reporting spending 42.8 hours per week working; an increase of 1.2 hours compared to 2023/24 (41.6 hours). This brings the figure back in line with what was being reported between 2017/18 – 2022/23, excluding 2020/21 which is significantly lower - possibly due to the survey being out during a national lockdown.

Following a decrease in 2022/23, the average hours spent on call by RAF personnel has remained unchanged (13.5 hours in 2024/25). This is a 2.9 hour decrease compared to 2019/20 when RAF personnel reported their highest hours on call. Much like time spent on call, average hours spent on duty have remained unchanged following a decrease in 2022/23, with personnel spending on average 61.0 hours on duty in 2024/25.

Figure 5.8: RAF average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty by location, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 5.8 is a line chart that shows the average time RAF personnel spent at work, on call and on duty by location between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

UK based personnel and personnel based on Overseas Operations reported an increase in overall hours spent at work this year (42.2 hours and 55.4 hours respectively) compared to the previous year. This now brings the figures back in line with what was being reported in 2021/22 and 2022/23. For personnel based Elsewhere abroad time spent at work has remained relatively unchanged since 2017/18, excluding 2020/21, when personnel reported their lowest hours spent at work.

Time spent on call for personnel based on Overseas Operations and personnel based Elsewhere abroad has remained unchanged since 2019/20. For personnel based in the UK time spent on call has remained unchanged since 2022/23.

Following a decrease in 2022/23, time spent on duty by personnel based in the UK remains unchanged with personnel reporting spending 58.9 hours per week on duty. Personnel on Overseas Operations have reported an increase this year by 9.5 hours, this brings the figures back in line with what was reported between 2020/21 - 2022/23. Much like average hours worked, time spent on duty by personnel based Elsewhere abroad has remained relatively stable since 2017/18, excluding 2020/21 when they reported their lowest figures.

Figure 5.9: RAF average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty by Officers, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 5.9 is a line chart that shows the average time RAF personnel spent at work, on call and on duty for Senior Officers and Junior Officers between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

The average hours worked by Senior Officers has remained relatively stable since 2018/19; excluding 2019/20, which saw personnel report their highest time spent at work. Average hours spent at work by Junior Officers this year remains unchanged compared to the previous (43.4 hours and 42.7 hours respectively). This is significantly lower compared to figures reported in 2021/22 and 2022/23 but is in line with figures reported between 2018/19 – 2020/21.

Average hours spent on call by Senior Officers remains unchanged this year compared to the previous (13.1 hours and 14.2 hours respectively). This is also back in line with figures reported between 2017/18 and 2018/19. Following on from 2023/24, when Junior Officers reported the highest average hours worked, this year has seen a decrease of 3.7 hours with personnel averaging 14.0 hours on call. This is now back in line with figures reported between 2018/19 – 2022/23.

The average hours spent on duty by Senior Officers in 2024/25 remains unchanged compared to 2023/24 and 2022/23; however, this is a 4.6 hour decrease compared to 2021/22. Junior Officers reported a decrease in time spent on duty this year. This brings the figure back in line with 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Figure 5.10: RAF average weekly hours spent at work, on call and on duty by Other Ranks, 2017/18 - 2024/25

Figure 5.10 is a line chart that shows the average time RAF personnel spent at work, on call and on duty for Senior Other Ranks and Junior Other Ranks between 2017/18 and 2024/25.

Senior Other Ranks reported working 44.1 hours per week in 2024/25, this remains unchanged since 2017/18. Junior Other Ranks reported an increase this year in average hours spent working (40.4 hours). This brings the figures back in line with what was reported between 2017/18 – 2022/23; excluding 2020/21 in which personnel reported their lowest hours worked.

Senior Other Ranks reported a significant decline in their hours spent on call this year compared to 2023/24 and 2022/23. This brings the figure back in line with 2018/19, when personnel were reporting their lowest hours on call. For Junior Other Ranks time spent on call has remained relatively stable over the last eight years; notable differences include 2017/18 when personnel reported their lowest hours spent on call and 2021/22 when they reported the highest.

Senior other Ranks reported a decrease in average hours spent on duty this year compared to the previous (59.1 hours and 62.4 hours respectively). This brings the figure back in line with 2021/22 and 2022/23. For Junior Other Ranks time spent on duty mimics time spent on call, remaining relatively stable over the last eight years; excluding 2017/18 and 2021/22.

6. Methodology

6.1 The questionnaire

In addition to the CWP paper survey, an online version of CWP was introduced in the later phase of the second wave of 2020/21 to collect responses from service personnel. Since then, paper and online survey were both used to collect responses throughout the two waves of data collection. Approximately half the personnel in the sample were sent a questionnaire in October 2024, the other half were sent a questionnaire in January 2025. Whilst both paper and online survey were offered to personnel from the same sample, some points of contacts had requested for an online option only, relevant personnel were only sent an online survey. Data collection for the survey ran from October 2024 up to March 2025.

The CWP survey includes a seven day diary; each day is divided into four periods of six hours. Respondents were asked to indicate time spent at ‘work’, ‘on breaks’, ‘on call’ and ‘off duty’ for each of these periods. Personnel were provided with guidance on how different activities should be recorded. The survey is confidential rather than anonymous. An individual’s unique Service number is used to allow responses to be linked to demographic data held on the Joint Personnel Administration System (JPA). Personally identifiable data are only available to a small group of civilian researchers working on the analysis and report production.

6.2 The sample and respondents

The target population are UK regular personnel who are full-time, trained strength. It excludes untrained personnel, those on long term absence, Special Forces, Gurkhas, reservists and personnel ranked above OF6. There were a number of other minor exclusions arising from the practicalities of running the survey e.g. those with invalid address data. Address data for personnel in the sample were obtained from the JPA.

Valid response rates by Service 2024/25

	Sample size	All valid responses	Valid response rate
Tri-service	26,352	3,215	12%
Royal Navy	8,385	775	9%
Army	8,606	1,376	16%
RAF	4,372	1,045	24%
Deployed surveys trial	4,989	19	0%

	Paper valid responses	Online valid responses
Tri-service	385	2,830
Royal Navy	107	668
Army	179	1,204
RAF	99	956

A ‘valid response’ refers to a returned questionnaire with at least one usable day within the 7 day diary.

The total CWP sample consisted of 26,352 personnel. A stratified simple random sampling process was used to select the sample. Stratification was by Service (Royal Navy, Army and RAF), rank group (Senior Officers, Junior Officers, Senior Ranks/Rates and Junior Ranks/Rates) and broad location. For the Royal Navy, the locations were at sea and shore. For the Army, the locations were United Kingdom, Germany, Overseas operations, and Elsewhere abroad. For the RAF, the locations were United Kingdom, Overseas operations and Elsewhere abroad. 2,830 valid responses were received from the online survey. Combining the responses from the online and paper surveys, the response rate this year (12%) has remained similar to last year (13%). The response rate excluding the deployed trial is 15%. The deployed surveys trial response rate may be an over/under-estimate due to continual circulation of online links. We cannot be sure how many personnel are at a given location at any time or have received the link therefore the sample size for the deployed trial has been calculated from the initial known sample size provided to us.

6.3 Impact of COVID-19 on CWP

CWP survey 2020/21 was in field November 2020 to June 2021, during a time of national restrictions, imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and two national lockdowns which may have influenced results. The CWP Survey 2021/22 included a new question asking whether COVID-19 had impacted on working patterns. Since 2022/23, any COVID-19 analysis conducted has not been reported in the accompanying reference tables. This is due to insufficient data not producing meaningful results. Please see the background quality report for more detail. Comparisons of results by this question for previous years are still included in the reference tables.

6.4 Full introduction of online survey

An online version of the survey was introduced in the second wave of CWP 2020/21 to improve response rates following feedback on the difficulties distributing paper questionnaires during lockdowns. This year, the online survey is utilised in both waves and distributed to all personnel in the sample. The difference in the mode of survey instrument might have an impact on the responses we captured. Considering that, results from paper survey and online survey were analysed both separately and as a combined dataset. This report focuses on the combined results of both paper and online responses. More detail is provided in the Background Quality Report.

6.5 Germany

In line with the announcement of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of 2010, the Army Basing Programme (ABP) was established to rebase the British Army from Germany to the UK by 2020. Large numbers of personnel moved from Germany back to the UK over the summer of 2019. This led to very low levels of response from Germany. As a result, reports since 2019/20 do not include any breakdowns for Germany, although responses are included in the overall Army and Rank group averages.

6.6 Personnel deployed overseas on operations

For the Army and RAF, the CWP survey measures the working patterns of personnel deployed on overseas Operations. During 2014, the UK Armed Forces reduced its military presence in Afghanistan from over 5,000 personnel to less than 500. In recent years, deployments have been more dispersed over a wider range of locations. For more information please see the MOD Annual Report and Accounts. The survey process to select samples, print and dispatch questionnaires can take several months. This, coupled with the high mobility of deployed personnel means many will have moved locations by the time the questionnaires arrive.

Number of personnel deployed on Overseas Operations returning a valid Continuous Working Patterns questionnaire, broken down by Service

	2017/18	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23	2023/24	2024/25
Army	122	55	85	205	190	87	50	7
RAF	139	38	147	78	120	27	6	12
Total	261	93	222	283	310	114	56	19

The reduction in the number of personnel deployed and the difficulties making contact with those who are, has led to a reduction in the number of responses from deployed personnel in recent years. Following a large decrease in responses from those deployed on overseas Operations in 2018/19, we have trialled sending batches of unnamed questionnaires to points of contact in large deployed locations over the past three years. Responses are still relatively low and so estimates for personnel deployed on operations Overseas will have wider confidence intervals.

In 2021/22, a separate questionnaire was created and sent to deployed locations for distribution to increase response rates. The questionnaires were sent unnamed, in batches to deployed locations for distribution, in addition to the ones sent to identified deployed personnel from the main sample. In 2022/23, we trialled sending an online link to access the survey to overseas points of contact to circulate among deployed personnel. Through points of contact, we then periodically recirculated a link for onward distribution for those in a local unit meeting the eligibility criteria. Because of this, the deployed response rate may have been over/under-estimated as we cannot be sure of the actual deployed trial sample size. The difference in the working patterns of respondents in the deployed surveys trial and those deployed selected in the main sample might have an impact on the responses we captured. Considering that, results from deployed personnel were analysed with and without the deployed surveys trial. This report focuses on the combined results of deployed personnel in both the main sample and the trial. More detail is provided in the Background Quality Report.

6.7 Margins of error

The sample was designed to provide sufficient responses to yield estimates with a margin of error of approximately +/- 0.80 hours for each single Service average weekly hours worked. However, the margin of error of hours ranged from +/- 0.47 for RAF to +/-0.98 for the Royal Navy therefore, the levels of precision were lower this year. For the overall total and the three single Services, levels of precision were lower (wider confidence intervals) for on duty and on call averages. Margins of error ranged from +/- 1.13 for Army On Call averages to +/- 1.78 hours for Royal Navy On Call averages.

6.8 Weighting the data

Due to the sample design and the differences in prevalence of non-response between Service, rank group and broad location, the distribution of characteristics among CWP respondents does not reflect the distribution of the trained, regular UK Armed Forces population. Therefore, responses have been weighted by Service, rank group and broad location in order to correct for the bias caused by over or under representation.

The weights are calculated simply by: Population size of strata (p)/Number of responses within strata (r).

Weighting in this way assumes missing data are missing at random (MAR) only within strata. This means we assume that within strata, the working patterns of non-respondents do not differ (on average) to the working patterns of respondents. If those who did not respond have different working patterns to those who did, then the observations in this report will not be representative of the working patterns of trained, regular UK Armed Forces, rather, the observations would only represent the working patterns of the responding population. Non-response that is directly related to individual working patterns will lead to bias within these survey results. For example, those busiest and hence working longer hours may be less likely to complete the survey.

6.9 Analysis

The automated data cleaning rules are set out below:

1. If a respondent has recorded they are on annual leave or sick leave but has also filled in some hours, we ignore the hours and assume the leave marker is true.

2. For Monday to Friday, if a respondent has recorded they are on duty but has not filled out any hours in the boxes, we change the leave marker to show them as being on annual leave. Anyone on annual leave will not be used in the calculations, as we are only interested in people who were working a ‘normal’ week, with no annual leave.

3. On Saturday and Sunday, if a respondent has recorded they are on duty but has not filled out any hours in the boxes, we change the leave marker to show them as being on weekend leave (we feel that this is a reasonable assumption to make).

4. On Saturday and Sunday, if a respondent has recorded they are on weekend leave, we make sure they have 24 hours off duty recorded for that day.

5. If a respondent has recorded they were on weekend leave from Monday to Friday (not a valid option on the questionnaire), we change the leave code to show annual leave.

6. If the total hours for a day add up to between 23 and 25 hours then we allow that day in the calculations without cleansing. We see this as an acceptable margin of error. Any totals that fall outside this margin will not be used in the calculations.

Many personnel returned questionnaires which included leave days or days that had to be discarded because of inconsistent or missing data. If analysis was restricted to only those questionnaires that cover a full working week, results would be based on much less data and confidence intervals would be considerably wider. The methodology used is based upon a ‘notional’ week made up of the average Monday, the average Tuesday,…, the average Sunday.

6.10 Rounding

Where rounding has been used, totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts.

6.11 Revisions

There are no planned revisions of this report nor are there any revisions within the main report. Figures may have been revised in previous reports and so may not match previously published figures.

6.12 Statistical comparisons

In order to detect any statistical differences in working patterns between the current year and the previous year, a series of z-tests were conducted at the 95% confidence level.

If a statistical difference is found it means that the difference between years is unlikely to be the result of random variation and is therefore indicative of a genuine change in hours spent at ‘work’, ‘on duty’ or ‘on call’ when comparing the averages reported in different time periods e.g. 2020/21 vs. 2024/25, 2022/23 vs. 2024/25. It does not mean that the change is necessarily large or substantively “important”.

Non-sampling errors such as non-response, timing of response and the location of respondents within the broad location should also be kept in mind when interpreting the results here.

It is important to note that the absence of a statistically significant difference between years does not necessarily mean that no difference is expected to exist between populations. Simply that, given the number of respondents, the detected difference is too small for us to be confident that a difference of this size could not have arisen due to chance variation in the survey process.

7. Glossary

Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) Provides independent advice to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence on pay and changes for members of the Naval, Military and Air Forces of the Crown.

Breaks Are meal breaks during periods of work.

Excessive hours Refers to a working week of 70 hours or more.

Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) Is the system used by the Armed Forces to deal with matters of pay, leave and other personal administrative tasks.

Junior Officers Armed Forces personnel with a NATO Rank of OF1 to OF2.

Junior Ranks/Rates Armed Forces personnel with a NATO Rank of OR1 to OR4.

Missing at random (MAR) Statistical theory that states those who did not respond to a question do not differ from those who did respond.

MOD Ministry of Defence.

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Royal Navy Comprises the Royal Navy (including Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service) and the Royal Marines combined.

Non-response Refers either to a person who although sampled and sent a questionnaire did not provide details of their working patterns, or to a respondent who did not complete a question.

Off duty Not at work, on breaks or on call.

Officers In the CWP survey, this refers to Officers with a NATO Rank of OF1 to OF6.

On call Includes all time when available as necessary, including all time away at sea, time spent on exercise or operations (including periods of off duty / stand down) and fully kitted for immediate call out.

On duty All time spent at work, on breaks and on call.

Ranks/Rates Ranks are members of the Royal Marines, Army and RAF who are not Officers. The equivalent group in the Royal Navy are known as ‘Ratings’.

RAF Royal Air Force.

RM Royal Marines.

RN Royal Navy

Senior Officers Armed Forces personnel with a NATO Rank of OF3 to OF6.

Senior Ranks/Rates Armed Forces personnel with a NATO Rank of OR6 to OR9.

Single Services Royal Navy, Army and RAF.

Statistically significant Refers to the result of a statistical test in which there is evidence of a difference in average weekly hours spent at work, on call or on duty between the averages reported in different time period/Services/ rank groups, that is unlikely to be the result of random variation.

Statistical tests Refers to those tests which are carried out to see if any evidence exists for a difference that is unlikely to be the result of random variation, in working patterns between the averages reported in different time period/Services/ rank groups.

Unsociable hours Are any hours worked between 00:00 and 06:00 Monday to Friday, any hours worked between 18:00 and 24:00 Monday to Friday, and any hours worked on Saturday and Sunday.

Work Includes all time spent on core activities, secondary duties, compulsory fitness training, organised sports and representational activities, but excludes breaks.

Weighting Refers to weights that are applied to the respondent data set (by Service, rank group and broad location) in order to make the data more representative of the population of interest.

Z-test Statistical tests based on a standardised distribution which allows comparison between years for populations of different sizes.

8. Further Information

8.1 Contact us

Defence Statistics welcome feedback on our statistical products. If you have any comments or questions about this publication or about our statistics in general, you can contact us as follows:

Analysis Surveys, Analysis Directorate Email: Analysis-Surveys-Enquiries@mod.gov.uk

If you require information which is not available within this or other available publications, you may wish to submit a Request for Information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to the Ministry of Defence. For more information, see: https://www.gov.uk/make-a-freedom-of-information-request/the-freedom-ofinformation-act

If you wish to correspond by mail, our postal address is:

Analysis Surveys, Analysis Directorate
Ministry of Defence, Main Building
Floor 3, Zone M
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2HB