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News
A sweeping survey of over 5,800 junior doctors across 19 European countries reveals a workforce under serious strain. On average, they work 57 hours a week — 9 hours above the EU legal limit — with 71% exceeding the 48-hour cap. More than half report dissatisfaction with their professional situation, and only 1 in 4 are satisfied with their work-life balance.
A major Europe-wide survey of junior doctors paints a troubling picture of overwork, burnout, and dissatisfaction. The REST JD Report, published in 2025 by the European Junior Doctors Association (EJD), surveyed 5,831 doctors in specialty training across 19 countries. The average respondent was 29 years old, and most were in the early years of their training — yet already stretched well beyond sustainable limits.
The numbers are stark: junior doctors work an average of 57 hours per week, 17 hours more than their contracts specify and 9 hours above the EU's legal 48-hour cap. Over half reported dissatisfaction with their professional situation, and only 25% were satisfied with their work-life balance. Surgical residents fared worst, averaging 62 hours a week and reporting the lowest work-life balance satisfaction of any specialty group.
The EJD is calling for structural reform — including phasing out 24-hour shifts, capping shifts at 13 hours, issuing schedules at least 6 weeks in advance, and using digital tools to track overtime and ensure compensation.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Overworked junior doctors aren't just a workforce issue — they're a patient safety risk. Sleep deprivation and fatigue impair clinical decision-making, and burnout is driving physicians out of medicine altogether. Without systemic reform, Europe risks losing the next generation of doctors before they've fully trained.
