Insights into hours worked, December 2022

Released

19/01/2023

Source

Labour Force, Australia, December 2022

Released

19/01/2023 11:30am AEDT

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

Key findings

Hours worked decreased by 9.5 million hours (0.5 per cent) in seasonally adjusted terms between November and December 2022, and employment decreased by 14,600 people (0.1 per cent). Some of the slowing in hours worked in December reflected an increase in the number of people working fewer hours because they were sick.

Chart 1 shows that despite the volatility in recent years, both the hours worked series and employment series have recovered above their pre-pandemic levels, with hours increasing 6.8 per cent and employment increasing 5.8 per cent since March 2020.

Chart 1: Hours worked and employment index, Seasonally adjusted (March 2020 = 100.0)
	Hours (March 2020 Index)	Employed (March 2020 Index)
Jan-20	100.4	99.9
Feb-20	100.3	100.0
Mar-20	100.0	100.0
Apr-20	90.0	95.5
May-20	90.8	93.3
Jun-20	94.4	95.1
Jul-20	95.5	95.9
Aug-20	95.8	97.1
Sep-20	95.6	96.8
Oct-20	97.7	98.1
Nov-20	99.1	98.7
Dec-20	99.3	99.0
Jan-21	94.6	99.1
Feb-21	100.0	99.8
Mar-21	102.2	100.4
Apr-21	101.0	100.2
May-21	102.5	100.9
Jun-21	101.1	101.1
Jul-21	101.0	101.1
Aug-21	96.9	100.1
Sep-21	97.8	99.1
Oct-21	97.8	98.8
Nov-21	101.9	101.7
Dec-21	103.5	102.4
Jan-22	94.9	102.5
Feb-22	103.3	103.3
Mar-22	102.8	103.6
Apr-22	104.2	103.8
May-22	104.8	104.2
Jun-22	105.1	104.9
Jul-22	104.9	104.7
Aug-22	105.6	105.1
Sep-22	105.4	105.2
Oct-22	107.9	105.5
Nov-22	107.4	106.0
Dec-22	106.8	105.8

Chart 1: Hours worked and employment index, Seasonally adjusted (March 2020 = 100.0)

["","Hours","Employed"]

[["Jan-20","Feb-20","Mar-20","Apr-20","May-20","Jun-20","Jul-20","Aug-20","Sep-20","Oct-20","Nov-20","Dec-20","Jan-21","Feb-21","Mar-21","Apr-21","May-21","Jun-21","Jul-21","Aug-21","Sep-21","Oct-21","Nov-21","Dec-21","Jan-22","Feb-22","Mar-22","Apr-22","May-22","Jun-22","Jul-22","Aug-22","Sep-22","Oct-22","Nov-22","Dec-22"],[[100.4],[100.3],[100],[90],[90.8],[94.4],[95.5],[95.8],[95.6],[97.7],[99.1],[99.3],[94.6],[100],[102.2],[101],[102.5],[101.1],[101],[96.9],[97.8],[97.8],[101.9],[103.5],[94.9],[103.3],[102.8],[104.2],[104.8],[105.1],[104.9],[105.6],[105.4],[107.9],[107.4],[106.8]],[[99.9],[100],[100],[95.5],[93.3],[95.1],[95.9],[97.1],[96.8],[98.1],[98.7],[99],[99.1],[99.8],[100.4],[100.2],[100.9],[101.1],[101.1],[100.1],[99.1],[98.8],[101.7],[102.4],[102.5],[103.3],[103.6],[103.8],[104.2],[104.9],[104.7],[105.1],[105.2],[105.5],[106],[105.8]]]

[]

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Source: Labour Force, Australia Tables 1 and 19

Chart 2 shows the proportion of employed people working fewer hours than usual for the four selected reasons in December.

The proportion of people working fewer hours due to own illness was 1.3 percentage points higher than the pre-pandemic December average.

The proportion of employed people who worked less hours for the other selected reasons was in line with the December average before the pandemic.

Chart 2: Proportion of employed people who worked fewer than usual hours for selected reasons in December, Original
	Annual leave, holidays, flextime, or long service leave (%)	Own illness or injury or sick leave (%)	Personal reasons, study, caring for sick or injured family (%)	Bad weather or plant breakdown (%)
Dec-16	6.4	3.1	2.0	0.2
Dec-17	6.4	3.1	2.2	0.5
Dec-18	6.4	3.1	2.1	0.4
Dec-19	5.9	3.3	2.2	0.3
Dec-20	5.4	3.3	2.2	0.2
Dec-21	5.1	3.3	2.3	0.6
Dec-22	6.1	4.4	2.2	0.3

Chart 2: Proportion of employed people who worked fewer than usual hours for selected reasons in December, Original

["","Annual leave, holidays, flextime, or long service leave","Own illness or injury or sick leave","Personal reasons, study, caring for sick or injured family","Bad weather or plant breakdown"]

[["Dec-16","Dec-17","Dec-18","Dec-19","Dec-20","Dec-21","Dec-22"],[[6.4],[6.4],[6.4],[5.9],[5.4],[5.1],[6.1]],[[3.1],[3.1],[3.1],[3.3],[3.3],[3.3],[4.4]],[[2],[2.2],[2.1],[2.2],[2.2],[2.3],[2.2]],[[0.2],[0.5],[0.4],[0.3],[0.2],[0.6],[0.3]]]

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Source: Labour Force, Australia Data Cube EM2a and Table 1

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

Chart 3 shows the number of people working fewer hours, and no hours due to illness. People working fewer hours increased by 85,900 people to 606,500 people between November and December 2022.

The number of people working fewer hours because they were sick was over 50 per cent higher than the December average before the pandemic.

Chart 3: Employed people working fewer hours than usual due to own illness or injury or sick leave, Original
	Worked fewer hours than usual ('000)	Did not work (0 hours) ('000)
Dec-17	393.5	107.0
Jan-18	207.3	89.0
Feb-18	405.1	135.2
Mar-18	420.0	130.5
Apr-18	315.4	108.4
May-18	424.6	114.7
Jun-18	430.0	147.4
Jul-18	436.5	136.7
Aug-18	512.4	156.1
Sep-18	487.7	143.9
Oct-18	346.6	122.0
Nov-18	402.1	120.9
Dec-18	399.0	126.6
Jan-19	302.7	99.4
Feb-19	406.3	124.3
Mar-19	399.9	126.4
Apr-19	437.1	134.6
May-19	449.7	121.5
Jun-19	500.9	166.2
Jul-19	513.0	160.8
Aug-19	538.9	166.9
Sep-19	510.2	150.8
Oct-19	377.6	122.0
Nov-19	434.7	133.5
Dec-19	435.1	124.5
Jan-20	327.0	99.0
Feb-20	430.8	123.9
Mar-20	491.7	154.4
Apr-20	310.0	138.6
May-20	283.7	103.4
Jun-20	339.1	122.1
Jul-20	408.3	134.5
Aug-20	441.3	145.7
Sep-20	404.0	133.7
Oct-20	362.0	130.9
Nov-20	406.4	137.1
Dec-20	424.6	123.1
Jan-21	268.8	100.9
Feb-21	389.3	122.8
Mar-21	439.2	153.1
Apr-21	389.6	153.5
May-21	484.9	147.1
Jun-21	525.7	159.8
Jul-21	440.0	153.6
Aug-21	453.3	139.9
Sep-21	455.8	140.7
Oct-21	376.5	121.1
Nov-21	433.3	141.3
Dec-21	441.6	131.2
Jan-22	744.4	451.1
Feb-22	592.5	222.9
Mar-22	581.6	232.7
Apr-22	750.5	341.0
May-22	787.4	315.5
Jun-22	782.4	300.8
Jul-22	757.0	300.7
Aug-22	768.5	294.2
Sep-22	571.8	185.9
Oct-22	470.2	166.5
Nov-22	520.6	162.5
Dec-22	606.5	200.9

Chart 3: Employed people working fewer hours than usual due to own illness or injury or sick leave, Original

["","Worked fewer hours than usual","Did not work (0 hours)"]

[["Dec-17","Jan-18","Feb-18","Mar-18","Apr-18","May-18","Jun-18","Jul-18","Aug-18","Sep-18","Oct-18","Nov-18","Dec-18","Jan-19","Feb-19","Mar-19","Apr-19","May-19","Jun-19","Jul-19","Aug-19","Sep-19","Oct-19","Nov-19","Dec-19","Jan-20","Feb-20","Mar-20","Apr-20","May-20","Jun-20","Jul-20","Aug-20","Sep-20","Oct-20","Nov-20","Dec-20","Jan-21","Feb-21","Mar-21","Apr-21","May-21","Jun-21","Jul-21","Aug-21","Sep-21","Oct-21","Nov-21","Dec-21","Jan-22","Feb-22","Mar-22","Apr-22","May-22","Jun-22","Jul-22","Aug-22","Sep-22","Oct-22","Nov-22","Dec-22"],[[393.5],[207.3],[405.1],[420],[315.4],[424.6],[430],[436.5],[512.4],[487.7],[346.6],[402.1],[399],[302.7],[406.3],[399.9],[437.1],[449.7],[500.9],[513],[538.9],[510.2],[377.6],[434.7],[435.1],[327],[430.8],[491.7],[310],[283.7],[339.1],[408.3],[441.3],[404],[362],[406.4],[424.6],[268.8],[389.3],[439.2],[389.6],[484.9],[525.7],[440],[453.3],[455.8],[376.5],[433.3],[441.6],[744.4],[592.5],[581.6],[750.5],[787.4],[782.4],[757],[768.5],[571.8],[470.2],[520.6],[606.5]],[[107],[89],[135.2],[130.5],[108.4],[114.7],[147.4],[136.7],[156.1],[143.9],[122],[120.9],[126.6],[99.4],[124.3],[126.4],[134.6],[121.5],[166.2],[160.8],[166.9],[150.8],[122],[133.5],[124.5],[99],[123.9],[154.4],[138.6],[103.4],[122.1],[134.5],[145.7],[133.7],[130.9],[137.1],[123.1],[100.9],[122.8],[153.1],[153.5],[147.1],[159.8],[153.6],[139.9],[140.7],[121.1],[141.3],[131.2],[451.1],[222.9],[232.7],[341],[315.5],[300.8],[300.7],[294.2],[185.9],[166.5],[162.5],[200.9]]]

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[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"'000","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"('000)","table_units":"('000)","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":null,"precision":"1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Source: Labour Force, Australia Data Cube EM2a

Chart 4 shows the proportion of employed people working fewer hours due to illness in each state and territory in December.

Chart 4: Proportion of employed people who worked fewer hours than usual due to own illness or injury or sick leave, by state and territory, Original
	Dec-17 (%)	Dec-18 (%)	Dec-19 (%)	Dec-20 (%)	Dec-21 (%)	Dec-22 (%)
New South Wales	2.8	2.9	2.9	2.9	3.0	3.9
Victoria	3.6	3.2	3.9	3.7	3.7	4.9
Queensland	2.8	2.9	3.2	3.2	3.1	4.1
South Australia	3.5	3.9	3.5	3.2	3.6	4.2
Western Australia	3.1	2.9	3.2	3.6	3.2	5.1
Tasmania	2.9	3.4	3.8	3.0	4.3	4.4
Northern Territory	3.1	3.1	2.8	2.7	3.3	4.3
Australian Capital Territory	4.9	4.1	3.0	3.5	3.6	5.3

Chart 4: Proportion of employed people who worked fewer hours than usual due to own illness or injury or sick leave, by state and territory, Original

["","Dec-17","Dec-18","Dec-19","Dec-20","Dec-21","Dec-22"]

[["New South Wales","Victoria","Queensland","South Australia","Western Australia","Tasmania","Northern Territory","Australian Capital Territory"],[[2.8],[3.6],[2.8],[3.5],[3.1],[2.9],[3.1],[4.9]],[[2.9],[3.2],[2.9],[3.9],[2.9],[3.4],[3.1],[4.1]],[[2.9],[3.9],[3.2],[3.5],[3.2],[3.8],[2.8],[3]],[[2.9],[3.7],[3.2],[3.2],[3.6],[3],[2.7],[3.5]],[[3],[3.7],[3.1],[3.6],[3.2],[4.3],[3.3],[3.6]],[[3.9],[4.9],[4.1],[4.2],[5.1],[4.4],[4.3],[5.3]]]

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

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 decreased 489,200 people to 842,600 people, between November and December 2022. The proportion of employed people taking annual leave in December 2022 was 6.1 per cent, slightly below the pre-pandemic December average of 6.7 per cent.

Chart 5: Employed people who worked fewer hours due to annual leave, flextime or long service leave, Original
	Worked fewer hours than usual ('000)
Dec-17	801.4
Jan-18	5,489.0
Feb-18	765.1
Mar-18	1,474.9
Apr-18	3,417.3
May-18	1,020.8
Jun-18	1,970.3
Jul-18	1,469.4
Aug-18	772.1
Sep-18	826.0
Oct-18	2,405.1
Nov-18	1,216.4
Dec-18	817.9
Jan-19	2,570.9
Feb-19	758.1
Mar-19	1,414.8
Apr-19	1,196.3
May-19	1,060.6
Jun-19	1,913.4
Jul-19	1,459.7
Aug-19	898.4
Sep-19	825.2
Oct-19	2,507.4
Nov-19	1,190.3
Dec-19	769.6
Jan-20	2,844.4
Feb-20	783.4
Mar-20	1,329.6
Apr-20	1,786.1
May-20	601.4
Jun-20	1,373.4
Jul-20	1,136.9
Aug-20	637.7
Sep-20	579.7
Oct-20	1,822.9
Nov-20	1,046.0
Dec-20	705.9
Jan-21	3,711.1
Feb-21	679.9
Mar-21	1,171.2
Apr-21	3,444.1
May-21	976.9
Jun-21	916.4
Jul-21	1,334.5
Aug-21	511.6
Sep-21	525.7
Oct-21	1,957.3
Nov-21	1,237.2
Dec-21	685.7
Jan-22	5,163.8
Feb-22	782.4
Mar-22	835.7
Apr-22	2,648.0
May-22	976.4
Jun-22	1,043.5
Jul-22	1,572.2
Aug-22	839.4
Sep-22	1,155.0
Oct-22	1,974.7
Nov-22	1,331.8
Dec-22	842.6

Chart 5: Employed people who worked fewer hours due to annual leave, flextime or long service leave, Original

["","Worked fewer hours than usual"]

[["Dec-17","Jan-18","Feb-18","Mar-18","Apr-18","May-18","Jun-18","Jul-18","Aug-18","Sep-18","Oct-18","Nov-18","Dec-18","Jan-19","Feb-19","Mar-19","Apr-19","May-19","Jun-19","Jul-19","Aug-19","Sep-19","Oct-19","Nov-19","Dec-19","Jan-20","Feb-20","Mar-20","Apr-20","May-20","Jun-20","Jul-20","Aug-20","Sep-20","Oct-20","Nov-20","Dec-20","Jan-21","Feb-21","Mar-21","Apr-21","May-21","Jun-21","Jul-21","Aug-21","Sep-21","Oct-21","Nov-21","Dec-21","Jan-22","Feb-22","Mar-22","Apr-22","May-22","Jun-22","Jul-22","Aug-22","Sep-22","Oct-22","Nov-22","Dec-22"],[[801.4],[5489],[765.1],[1474.9],[3417.3],[1020.8],[1970.3],[1469.4],[772.1],[826],[2405.1],[1216.4],[817.9],[2570.9],[758.1],[1414.8],[1196.3],[1060.6],[1913.4],[1459.7],[898.4],[825.2],[2507.4],[1190.3],[769.6],[2844.4],[783.4],[1329.6],[1786.1],[601.4],[1373.4],[1136.9],[637.7],[579.7],[1822.9],[1046],[705.9],[3711.1],[679.9],[1171.2],[3444.1],[976.9],[916.4],[1334.5],[511.6],[525.7],[1957.3],[1237.2],[685.7],[5163.8],[782.4],[835.7],[2648],[976.4],[1043.5],[1572.2],[839.4],[1155],[1974.7],[1331.8],[842.6]]]

[]

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[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"'000","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"('000)","table_units":"('000)","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":null,"precision":"1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Source: Labour Force, Australia Data Cube EM2a

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

Chart 6 shows people working fewer hours due to bad weather or plant breakdown decreased 13,600 to 36,100 people in December 2022.

Chart 6: Employed people who worked fewer hours than usual due to bad weather or plant breakdown, Original
	Worked fewer hours than usual ('000)
Dec-17	56.8
Jan-18	19.3
Feb-18	23.9
Mar-18	54.0
Apr-18	13.2
May-18	29.4
Jun-18	59.6
Jul-18	47.4
Aug-18	39.7
Sep-18	33.0
Oct-18	64.0
Nov-18	23.1
Dec-18	52.1
Jan-19	35.2
Feb-19	33.3
Mar-19	33.0
Apr-19	30.0
May-19	42.4
Jun-19	68.9
Jul-19	65.0
Aug-19	53.9
Sep-19	36.6
Oct-19	21.2
Nov-19	38.4
Dec-19	33.9
Jan-20	42.0
Feb-20	134.2
Mar-20	90.1
Apr-20	50.0
May-20	36.9
Jun-20	37.5
Jul-20	42.6
Aug-20	67.1
Sep-20	26.0
Oct-20	36.4
Nov-20	38.9
Dec-20	29.8
Jan-21	48.5
Feb-21	42.4
Mar-21	47.1
Apr-21	51.5
May-21	49.9
Jun-21	65.1
Jul-21	75.5
Aug-21	29.9
Sep-21	29.8
Oct-21	46.2
Nov-21	71.6
Dec-21	74.4
Jan-22	33.1
Feb-22	50.4
Mar-22	507.3
Apr-22	69.5
May-22	95.7
Jun-22	78.3
Jul-22	120.5
Aug-22	64.3
Sep-22	68.9
Oct-22	103.3
Nov-22	49.7
Dec-22	36.1

Chart 6: Employed people who worked fewer hours than usual due to bad weather or plant breakdown, Original

["","Worked fewer hours than usual"]

[["Dec-17","Jan-18","Feb-18","Mar-18","Apr-18","May-18","Jun-18","Jul-18","Aug-18","Sep-18","Oct-18","Nov-18","Dec-18","Jan-19","Feb-19","Mar-19","Apr-19","May-19","Jun-19","Jul-19","Aug-19","Sep-19","Oct-19","Nov-19","Dec-19","Jan-20","Feb-20","Mar-20","Apr-20","May-20","Jun-20","Jul-20","Aug-20","Sep-20","Oct-20","Nov-20","Dec-20","Jan-21","Feb-21","Mar-21","Apr-21","May-21","Jun-21","Jul-21","Aug-21","Sep-21","Oct-21","Nov-21","Dec-21","Jan-22","Feb-22","Mar-22","Apr-22","May-22","Jun-22","Jul-22","Aug-22","Sep-22","Oct-22","Nov-22","Dec-22"],[[56.8],[19.3],[23.9],[54],[13.2],[29.4],[59.6],[47.4],[39.7],[33],[64],[23.1],[52.1],[35.2],[33.3],[33],[30],[42.4],[68.9],[65],[53.9],[36.6],[21.2],[38.4],[33.9],[42],[134.2],[90.1],[50],[36.9],[37.5],[42.6],[67.1],[26],[36.4],[38.9],[29.8],[48.5],[42.4],[47.1],[51.5],[49.9],[65.1],[75.5],[29.9],[29.8],[46.2],[71.6],[74.4],[33.1],[50.4],[507.3],[69.5],[95.7],[78.3],[120.5],[64.3],[68.9],[103.3],[49.7],[36.1]]]

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Source: Labour Force, Australia Data Cube EM2a

APA

Citation

Insights into hours worked, December 2022

APA

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Key findings

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

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

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

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