In 2023, only 24.3 per cent of the working population in Luxembourg worked in the same place where they lived. This figure highlights the extent of daily commuting, especially for cross-border workers, whose journeys often exceed 50 kilometres.
The latest report from the Department of Spatial Planning (DATer) paints a picture that is all too familiar to many workers in the Grand Duchy: commutes are rarely short and even rarer are local. Less than a quarter of the working population (24.3 per cent) work in the municipality where they live. This figure drops to 13 per cent when cross-border workers are included.
The exception: Luxembourg City
The capital alone accounts for 172,404 jobs, which is more than a third of national employment. It is also the only municipality where the majority of the working population lives and works in the same place: 68.8 per cent, to be precise.
By comparison, in most other municipalities this figure is below 30 per cent and in some even below 5 per cent, such as in Saeul (3.9 per cent), Vichten (4.0 per cent) and Weiler-la-Tour (4.7 per cent).
Cars dominate mobility
According to the latest survey data available from 2017, 73 per cent of commutes are made by car, 61 per cent of which are as drivers. Despite free public transport and the expansion of the tram network, cars remain the dominant mode of transport, especially in suburban and cross-border areas.
Distances depend on place of residence
The average distances travelled by workers vary greatly depending on where they live:
| Country of residence | Average distance between home and work (km) |
| Luxemburg | 16,7 km |
| France (Lorraine) | 44,7 km |
| Germany | 48,0 km |
| Belgium (Wallonia) | 53,9 km |
| Overall average | 30,6 km |
Luxembourg residents therefore benefit from shorter journeys, although these are still above the French average (14.2 kilometres in 2019). Cross-border workers, on the other hand, travel considerable distances, sometimes more than 100 kilometres per day, which underlines the attractiveness of the Luxembourg labour market.
Different regional dynamics
The analysis by agglomeration reveals clear differences:
- In and around Luxembourg City (Agglo-Centre), 83 per cent of the working population also works there.
- In the South region, this figure drops to 43.2 per cent.
- In the Nordstad, it is only 33.7 per cent, which is due to a lower number of jobs and good access to the capital via the A7 motorway and the railway.
How can the situation be improved?
The report offers several solutions to reduce distances and traffic flows:
- Relocation of jobs to central locations (‘Centres de Développement et d’Attraction’)
- Expanding teleworking and co-working spaces, especially in border areas
- Promoting functional mixing in city centres to create so-called 15-minute cities
- Adjusting working hours to reduce traffic peaks
- Strengthening cross-border cooperation for coordinated spatial planning
