Hours Worked statistics shows the distribution of employment hours in Australia across each industry sector. Full-time employment is considered 35-hours and over.
The hours worked by employed people in a particular industry depend on a number of factors:
- The availability and take-up of part-time work in the industry;
- The demands of jobs in the industry and requirement to work overtime;
- The age and family responsibilities of people working in the industry; and
- The gender profile of workers in the industry (due to family commitments, females are often more likely to work part-time).
Hours Worked data should be viewed in conjunction with Age structure, Occupation and Income.
Data source
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2021 – by place of work
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| Local workers hours worked, 2021 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia - All industries | 2021 | 2016 | Change | ||||||
| Hours worked | Number | % | Australia BM% | Number | % | Australia BM% | 2016 - 2021 | ||
| None | 787,382 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 369,195 | 3.5 | 3.5 | +418,187 | ||
| 1 hour - 15 hours | 1,358,947 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 1,218,826 | 11.4 | 11.4 | +140,121 | ||
| 16 hours - 24 hours | 1,236,643 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 1,079,238 | 10.1 | 10.1 | +157,405 | ||
| 25 hours - 34 hours | 1,366,950 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 1,193,447 | 11.2 | 11.2 | +173,503 | ||
| 35 hours - 39 hours | 2,487,056 | 20.6 | 20.6 | 2,031,267 | 19.0 | 19.0 | +455,789 | ||
| 40 hours | 2,139,111 | 17.8 | 17.8 | 1,994,238 | 18.7 | 18.7 | +144,873 | ||
| 41 hours - 48 hours | 980,627 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 989,477 | 9.3 | 9.3 | -8,850 | ||
| 49 hours or more | 1,488,325 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 1,608,087 | 15.1 | 15.1 | -119,762 | ||
| Not stated | 204,376 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 200,090 | 1.9 | 1.9 | +4,286 | ||
| Total Persons | 12,049,417 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 10,683,865 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +1,365,552 | ||
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions) Please refer to specific data notes for more information | |||||||||
Dominant groups
Analysis of the hours worked by the workforce in Australia in 2021compared to Australia BM within Australia shows that there was a lower proportion who worked part-time (34 hours or less) and a lower proportion who worked full-time (35 hours or more).
Overall, 39.4% of the workforce worked part-time (34 hours or less) , and 58.9% worked full-time (35 hours or more), compared with 39.4% and 58.9% respectively for Australia BM within Australia.
The major differences between the hours worked by the workforce in Australia and Australia BM were:
- A smaller percentage of local workers who worked 40 hours (17.8% compared to 17.8%)
- A smaller percentage of local workers who worked 41 hours - 48 hours (8.1% compared to 8.1%)
- A smaller percentage of local workers who worked 49 hours or more (12.4% compared to 12.4%)
- A smaller percentage of local workers who worked Not stated (1.7% compared to 1.7%)
Emerging groups
The largest changes in the hours worked by the All industries workforce in Australia between 2016 and 2021 were:
- 35 hours - 39 hours (+455,789 local workers)
- None (+418,187 local workers)
- 25 hours - 34 hours (+173,503 local workers)
- 16 hours - 24 hours (+157,405 local workers)