Americans Took the Fewest Number of Vacation Days in 2018

A report by Expedia found that global vacation deprivation is on the rise, and that workers in the U.S. took the fewest number of vacation days in the world in 2018, alongside Japan and Thailand.

With the number of U.S. vacation days awarded and taken at a five-year low, it's no wonder that vacation deprivation levels for Americans are at a five-year high (59%, up 8% from 2017). According to the report, American workers received 14 vacations days and used 10, resulting in 653.9 million days left on the table in 20181.

Results from the 2018 report include:

-58 percent of workers globally describe themselves as very or somewhat vacation deprived, an increase from 53 percent in 2017 and 49 percent in 2016

-Gen Z and millennials (18-34) receive two less days on average (12) than any other age group in the U.S. and feel the most deprived (68%)

-Finances are increasingly a factor for Americans who haven't taken a vacation in the last six months, with more than half feeling like they can't afford a trip (54%, up 11% from 2017) – more than any other country surveyed except South Korea

-Americans use an average of two of their allotted vacation days per year for "life admin" (i.e. running errands, appointments)

Sixty-three percent of Americans go six months or longer without a vacation, with more than a quarter (28%) going a year or more sans time off. Considering time off is so precious, one might be surprised to hear that a quarter of Americans admit to checking work email/voicemail at least once a day while on vacation.

"One of the leading reasons people don't use their vacation days is that they're saving them for a big trip, which means they're going longer and longer between vacations," says Nisreene Atassi, global head of communications for Brand Expedia. "Bigger trips are great, but even a quick break can significantly improve quality of life. Aim to schedule a staycation or add an extra day onto a holiday weekend in between longer trips to get the best of both worlds."