Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia

Australia: Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person was 35.71 in 2021. ▬ Flat

Latest (2021)
35.71
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
80th
of 88 countries
All-time high
37
in 2001
All-time low
35.23
in 2020
Years of data
21
2001–2021

Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia, 2001–2021

0102030402001201120212001: 372002: 36.92003: 36.82004: 36.82005: 36.82006: 36.62007: 36.82008: 36.82009: 36.32010: 36.22011: 36.32012: 36.32013: 36.22014: 35.92015: 362016: 35.92017: 36.22018: 362019: 36.12020: 35.22021: 35.7

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia is 35.71, measured in 2021.

That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia peaked at 37 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 35.23, in 2020.

That places Australia 80th out of 88 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia, 2001 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2001 37
2002 36.85 -0.4%
2003 36.78 -0.2%
2004 36.83 +0.1%
2005 36.78 -0.1%
2006 36.64 -0.4%
2007 36.76 +0.3%
2008 36.75 -0.0%
2009 36.34 -1.1%
2010 36.23 -0.3%
2011 36.26 +0.1%
2012 36.31 +0.1%
2013 36.16 -0.4%
2014 35.91 -0.7%
2015 35.95 +0.1%
2016 35.88 -0.2%
2017 36.16 +0.8%
2018 36.03 -0.4%
2019 36.13 +0.3%
2020 35.23 -2.5%
2021 35.71 +1.4%

Australia compared with similar countries

  • Australia's 35.71 is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.94, 92% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Australia's 35.71 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 43.82, 81% of the median. (8 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 36.75 36.34 37 9
2010s 36.1 35.88 36.31 10
2020s 35.47 35.23 35.71 2

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 77 Togo 36.68 compare
  2. 78 Switzerland 36 compare
  3. 79 United Kingdom 35.9 compare
  4. 81 Canada 35.46 compare
  5. 82 Austria 35.36 compare
  6. 83 Rwanda 34.66 compare

See the full ranking of 88 places →

More work & labour data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia?
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia was 35.71 in 2021, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 37 in 2001.
What is the lowest average weekly hours usually worked per employed person recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 35.23 in 2020.
How does Australia rank for average weekly hours usually worked per employed person?
Australia ranks 80th out of 88 countries with data for 2021.
Is average weekly hours usually worked per employed person rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 21 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/average-weekly-hours-usually-worked-per-employed-person/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Average weekly hours usually worked per employed person
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
88 places, 1,886 data points, 1976–2026
Last refreshed

With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. The concept of hours usually worked relates to the typical value of hours actually worked in a job per a short reference period such as one week, over a long observation period of a month, quarter, season or year that comprises the short reference measurement period used. The typical value may be the modal value of the distribution of hours actually worked per short period over the long observation period, where meaningful. The short reference period for measuring hours usually worked should be the same as the reference period used to measure employment. For more information, refer to the Wages and Working Time Statistics (COND) database description.