Leisure time

The availability of leisure time is generally tied to unemployment and overall labor conditions. When unemployment is low, more individuals are working, reducing leisure time availability. The outbreak of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic resulted in high unemployment, contributing to an increase in time spent on leisure. In 2020, leisure time increased by 3.2% as many people worked from home, reducing commute time and many people were unemployed. The economic recovery in 2021 reduced unemployment substantially, contributing to a 2.0% contraction in time spent on leisure. As the economy continued to recover in 2022, time spent on leisure declined an additional 1.2% in 2022, achieving a level slightly below the pre-pandemic level.

In 2023, time spent on leisure is up ticked by 0.6% as more companies begin cutting back their workforces in reaction to a more inflationary pressured market where costs have risen. However, a robust labor market helped to prevent leisure time from elevating as more people found work in the same year, tempering the amount of leisure time. Despite the economy avoiding a recession in 2024, leisure time increased 0.9% due to resilient consumer spending. Releases of new content and media concurrently have boosted leisure time as well. In 2025, IBISWorld forecasts an additional increase of 0.5% as interest rates decrease and activities become more affordable.