Spain leads Europe in workplace productivity race, UK falls behind

Resent research from Ricoh Europe reveals stark disparities in workplace productivity across Europe’s largest economies. For the first time, Spain leads Europe in workplace productivity, with the UK and Ireland falling to the bottom of the list…

The study, conducted by Opinion Matters for Ricoh Europe, surveyed 7,000 workers and 1,800 decision-makers across Europe* and underscores the impact of inadequate workplace technology on productivity, particularly in France, Germany and the UK and Ireland.

Spain leads Europe in workplace productivity with Italy on second place

Spain stands out as Europe’s most productive nation, with 92% of employees reporting high productivity and an unproductivity rate of just 4%. The eurozone’s fourth-biggest economy, Spain’s GDP grew 3.2% last year. In contrast, the UK’s economy grew just 0.9%, meanwhile the UK and Ireland ranks lowest for workplace productivity, where employees are more than twice as likely to consider themselves unproductive (9%), compared to their Spanish counterparts.

Technology plays a critical role in workplace productivity

The findings demonstrate the critical role of modern technology in workplace productivity. In the UK and Ireland, just one in four (28%) employees feel equipped with the necessary technology for seamless collaboration, the lowest figure among surveyed countries. France and Germany also face significant challenges, with a quarter (22% and 27% respectively) of business leaders citing outdated technology as a leading barrier to employee productivity.

Employees across Europe are calling for better workplace technology to improve productivity. When asked what would enhance their productivity, 40% point to better document management software, which allows for collaboration between users of a digital document and over a third to communication and collaboration tools (37%) and automation software (36%).

Caroline Bright, Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer of Ricoh Europe, commented: “The productivity gap across Europe should be a wake-up call for business leaders. When Spanish workers are more than twice as likely to be productive as their UK counterparts, we must ask ourselves why. Our research shows that equipping employees with the right technology is essential for unlocking their full potential and driving productivity.

“As workplace dynamics evolve and businesses renew their focus on the office, it’s more important than ever to provide employees with the tools they need to operate and collaborate effectively. As a leader helping to navigate our own strategic transformation, I understand the challenges that businesses face first-hand. But the good news is that the solutions are within reach. Those who act now to modernise their workplace technology will be best positioned to close the productivity gap and empower their teams to perform at their best and thrive in a competitive market.”

More about Ricoh

Ricoh is a leading provider of integrated digital services and print and imaging solutions designed to support digital transformation of workplaces, workspaces and optimise business performance.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh’s global operation reaches customers in approximately 200 countries and regions, supported by cultivated knowledge, technologies, and organisational capabilities nurtured over its 85-year history. In the financial year ended March 2024, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,348 billion yen (approx. 15.5 billion USD).

It is Ricoh’s mission and vision to empower individuals to find Fulfilment through Work by understanding and transforming how people work so we can unleash their potential and creativity to realise a sustainable future.

About the research

Employee research methodology:

The research was conducted by Opinion Matters, among a sample of 7,000 respondents who are office workers within companies employing 1-1000+ people across France, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Italy.