6333.0 - Characteristics of Employment, Australia, August 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/08/2016   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All
MEDIA RELEASE
31 August 2016
Embargoed: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
94/2015
Catching up: why people work from home

Almost a third (3.5 million) of all employed persons regularly worked from home in their main job or business, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

"42 per cent of those who regularly work from home cited catching up on work as the main reason," said Jennifer Humphrys, Director of Labour Market Analytics at the ABS. "A further 20 per cent regularly worked from home because they wanted an office or didn't want to pay rent or overheads."

These were some of the results from the Characteristics of Employment survey, conducted in August 2015, which collected information on the distribution of weekly earnings, working arrangements and independent contractors.

"Nearly one in five employed persons usually worked shift work. Of these, two-fifths usually worked a rotating shift, which periodically changed," said Ms Humphrys.

The survey also found that the average weekly earnings in all jobs for the selected group had increased to $1,202 in August 2015 from $1,189 in August 2014.

Further details can be found in Characteristics of Employment, Australia, August 2015 (cat. no. 6333.0) and is available for free download from www.abs.gov.au.

Media note:
  • When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
  • For media requests and interviews, contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070 (8.30am - 5pm Mon-Fri).
  • Subscribe to our email notification service and get media releases or products sent to you on release.