Insights into hours worked, April 2022

Released
19/05/2022

The ABS will continue to monitor changes in hours worked and provide additional analysis when relevant.

Hours worked increased by 1.3% (in seasonally adjusted terms) between March and April 2022, while employment was steady (0.03% increase). Throughout the pandemic, the hours worked series shows larger short-term changes than in the employed series, given that employees may be away from paid work for a short period without losing their job.  

Chart 1 shows that after the rise in April 2022, hours worked was 0.8% above the previous high in December 2021 and 0.9% above the pre-Delta COVID variant high of May 2021.

Source: Labour Force, Australia Tables 1 and 19

People working fewer hours than usual due to their own illness, injury or sick leave

Chart 2 shows an increase in the number of people working fewer hours due to the continuing disruption from the Omicron variant. The number of people working fewer hours due to their own illness in April 2022 was the second highest level recorded during the pandemic. 

Source: Labour Force, Australia Data Cube EM2a

Chart 3 shows the percentage of employed people who worked fewer hours than usual due to own illness by state. New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland showed an increase in April following consecutive falls in February and March. In contrast, the other states and territories continued to increase from January, with a sharp increase in April. 

Source:  Labour Force, Australia Table 12 and Data Cube EM2b

People working fewer hours than usual due to bad weather or plant breakdown

Chart 4 shows people working fewer hours due to bad weather or plant breakdown decreased in April 2022, reflecting a bounce back from March in flood affected areas in New South Wales and Queensland.

Source: Labour Force, Australia Data Cube EM2a

People working fewer hours than usual due to annual leave, flextime or long service leave

Chart 5 shows the number of people working fewer hours due to annual leave, flextime or long service leave. The increase in April 2022 is similar to previous April time points, although some variation is evident due to the timing of Easter and school holiday periods. 

Source: Labour Force, Australia Data Cube EM2a

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