Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Australia

Australia: Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job was 35.45 Hours per week per person in 2025. β–¬ Flat

Latest (2025)
35.45 Hours per week per person
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
33rd
of 39 countries
All-time high
37.21 Hours per week per person
in 2001
All-time low
35.45 Hours per week per person
in 2025
Years of data
25
2001–2025

Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Australia, 2001–2025

0102030402001201320252001: 37.2 Hours per week per person2002: 37.1 Hours per week per person2003: 37 Hours per week per person2004: 37 Hours per week per person2005: 36.9 Hours per week per person2006: 36.8 Hours per week per person2007: 36.9 Hours per week per person2008: 36.9 Hours per week per person2009: 36.5 Hours per week per person2010: 36.4 Hours per week per person2011: 36.4 Hours per week per person2012: 36.5 Hours per week per person2013: 36.4 Hours per week per person2014: 36.1 Hours per week per person2015: 36.1 Hours per week per person2016: 35.9 Hours per week per person2017: 35.9 Hours per week per person2018: 35.8 Hours per week per person2019: 35.7 Hours per week per person2020: 35.7 Hours per week per person2021: 35.7 Hours per week per person2022: 35.9 Hours per week per person2023: 35.9 Hours per week per person2024: 35.5 Hours per week per person2025: 35.4 Hours per week per person

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Hours per week per person.

Analysis

The most recent figure for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Australia is 35.45 Hours per week per person, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Australia peaked at 37.21 Hours per week per person in 2001 and was at its lowest, 35.45 Hours per week per person, in 2025.

That places Australia 33rd out of 39 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 36.93 Hours per week per person 36.51 Hours per week per person 37.21 Hours per week per person 9
2010s 36.13 Hours per week per person 35.75 Hours per week per person 36.5 Hours per week per person 10
2020s 35.68 Hours per week per person 35.45 Hours per week per person 35.88 Hours per week per person 6

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 30 Switzerland 35.71 Hours per week per person compare
  2. 31 Finland 35.65 Hours per week per person compare
  3. 32 Austria 35.64 Hours per week per person compare
  4. 34 Norway 34.56 Hours per week per person compare
  5. 35 Germany 34.48 Hours per week per person compare
  6. 36 Denmark 33.34 Hours per week per person compare

See the full ranking of 54 places β†’

More work & labour data for Australia

All data for Australia β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Australia?
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Australia was 35.45 Hours per week per person in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 37.21 Hours per week per person in 2001.
What is the lowest average usual weekly hours worked on the main job recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 35.45 Hours per week per person in 2025.
How does Australia rank for average usual weekly hours worked on the main job?
Australia ranks 33rd out of 39 countries with data for 2025.
Is average usual weekly hours worked on the main job rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/average-usual-weekly-hours-worked-on-the-main-job/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Average usual weekly hours worked on the main job
Unit
Hours per week per person
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
54 places, 1,589 data points, 1983–2025
Last refreshed

This dataset contains data on average usual weekly hours worked in the main job broken down by total employment, full-time employment and part-time employment. Actual hours of work, instead of usual hours of work, are only available in some countries (Mexico and Korea). Data are further broken down by professional status - employees, total employment - by sex and standardised age groups (15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 65+ and total) . Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at: OECD Ratification Dates.