Forbes: These cities offer the best work-life balance

Evaluation criteria

In spring 2023, Forbes Advisor rated around 128 major cities for their work-life balance on a scale of one to 100 points. The selection was based on criteria such as rank in the World Happiness Index, average working hours, ratio between real estate prices and income, parks and nature reserves per capita, hours of sunshine and many others. The top ten of this rating list is presented below.

10th place: Belfast

Belfast is in tenth place with a work-life balance of 57 points. In addition to a relaxed atmosphere, the capital of Northern Ireland also offers a variety of exciting career opportunities, particularly in the business and technology sectors. Well-known employers here include Deloitte, Citigroup and Allstate.
The comparatively low cost of living and a good ratio between property prices and income make the city an attractive option. In addition to a fixed number of vacation days per year (at least 20), maternity or paternity leave and flexible working hours are some of the measures intended to create a better work-life balance.

9th place: Edinburgh

Edinburgh is in ninth place with a lead of 0.1 points. The Scottish capital attracts with history and culture, but also unique nature. In addition to museums, art galleries and theaters, it is also possible to hike or cycle. With an annual vacation of 28 days, there is also plenty of time to take advantage of these opportunities. A well-known, globally active employer based in Edinburgh is the Royal Bank of Scotland.

8th place: Vienna

The Austrian capital takes eighth place with 58.5 points. Vienna also offers a rich culture and history that can be enjoyed with an average of five weeks of annual vacation and 13 public holidays. You can also enjoy the many green spaces. Benefits include numerous social benefits such as free healthcare and education. In addition, there is a low unemployment rate in Vienna (2.3 percent), not least because the majority of large Austrian corporations and some large foreign companies are based in Vienna – including Henkel and the oil company OMV.

7th place: Reykjavik

The capital of Iceland is in seventh place, 0.2 points ahead. With an annual vacation of 24 days and twelve public holidays, working people in Reykjavik have enough time to enjoy the breathtaking nature, go hiking, watch whales and swim in geothermal pools. The Icelandic government is actively involved in creating a healthy work-life balance, which is why many companies have introduced a flexible working model. Iceland is also a pioneer when it comes to equality, as the so-called “gender pay gap” has been lowest there since 2009.

6th place: Gothenburg

Gothenburg secured sixth place with 60.7 points. Sweden’s second largest city is located on the north coast and offers a nature full of beaches and islands. Almost half of the advertised positions offer flexible work options such as remote or hybrid work. Combined with 25 days of vacation a year, there is enough time to enjoy. The city is also known for its diverse coffee house culture. The heart of the car manufacturer Volvo is also located in Gothenburg.

5th place: Auckland

Auckland marks the start of the top five with 62.7 points, making it the first city in the top ten outside of Europe. In addition to a friendly atmosphere, New Zealand’s largest city also offers a growing economy in various sectors. On average, an employee here works 26.3 hours per week, although the majority still work a 38 or 40 hour week. What is striking in Auckland is the unemployment rate, which at 3.2 percent is significantly lower than the global average.

4th place: Oslo

Oslo is in fourth place, one place lower than in 2020, with 63.2 points. The high standard of living in the capital of the Kingdom of Norway is remarkable, as the cost of living here is very expensive. However, adjusted wages and an excellent quality of life compensate for this. Oslo is in sixth place in the world happiness ranking. In Oslo, employees receive 25 days of annual leave, and employees also receive paid parental leave of almost two years.

3rd place: Stockholm

Having moved up from fifth place in 2020, Stockholm now finds itself in third place at the start of the podium with 64.8 points. In addition to a high work-life balance, residents of Sweden’s capital benefit from a strong economy and a diverse cultural scene with museums and world-famous music events. Full-time employees have around 25 days off per year to individually organize their private life and regeneration phases. Here, too, almost half of the jobs are advertised as hybrid or remote options. Despite the large share of the service sector, some large industrial companies are located in Stockholm – including Ericsson and the drug manufacturer AstraZeneca, which gained fame through the production of a COVID-19 vaccine.

2nd place: Helsinki

Helsinki is in second place with a score of 65.1. The Finnish capital also achieved a top ranking in the World Happiness Index, namely first place. Thanks to generous annual leave of up to five weeks, employees can get enough rest and dedicate themselves to their own health. In Helsinki, more than half of the advertised positions come with flexible working hours. The tech sector in particular is becoming increasingly important, offering people all over the world the opportunity to experience a healthy work-life balance. But a comprehensive social system also makes Helsinki an attractive place to work. In addition to free education, the healthcare system is also affordable for everyone.

1st place: Copenhagen

Helsinki has been pushed out of first place as Copenhagen is now at the top. The Danish capital takes the victory by more than five points (70.5). They are best known for their “Hygge” philosophy of life, which focuses on a warm atmosphere and enjoying life. Good food and drink, spending time with friends and family, enjoying nature and consciously being happy about little things – these are all aspects of “Hygge”, but also of regeneration, relaxation and a healthy work-life balance.
This philosophy is also practiced by many companies in their everyday work, which is why they allow flexible working hours and five weeks of annual vacation. The unemployment rate is only 2.4 percent. Officially there is a 37-hour week in Denmark, and overtime is not welcome.

And what about German cities?

There were also well-known major German cities among the 128 cities examined. However, they achieved placements far away from the top ten. With 46.2 points, Munich – as the best German location – only reached 32nd place. Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Berlin and Hamburg are each below 45th place, so they only partially and then only just make it into the top 50.

Jennifer Vogel / editorial team finanzen.net

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