SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


OVERVIEW

In November 2009, there were 9.3 million employees aged 15 years and over. Of these, 92% (8.6 million) were employees (excluding owner managers of incorporated enterprises (OMIEs)). Of these:

• 58% did not have any say in their start and finish times;
• 74% could choose when their holidays were taken;
• 39% were able to work extra hours in order to take time off;
• 38% usually worked extra hours or overtime;
• 16% usually worked shift work;
• 25% had earnings/income which varied from one pay period to the next; and
• 37% had hours that varied weekly or they were usually required to be on call or standby.

EMPLOYEES IN MAIN JOB

Patterns of work of single and multiple jobholders

There were 8.7 million employees who were single jobholders in November 2009. Of these:

• 15% usually worked on Saturdays and 9% usually worked on Sundays; and
• 71% worked on weekdays only, while 28% worked on both weekdays and weekends.

In comparison, there were 548,400 employees who were multiple jobholders in November 2009. Of these:

• 40% usually worked on Saturdays and 26% usually worked on Sundays; and
• 42% worked on weekdays only, while 57% worked on both weekdays and weekends.

In November 2009, 54% of employees who were single jobholders were men. In contrast, most employees who were multiple jobholders were women (57% compared to 43% of men).

Men who were single jobholders, were more likely to work Monday to Friday¹ than women who were single jobholders (72% compared to 54%). Women who were single jobholders, were more likely to only work on weekdays than men who were single jobholders (73% compared to 69%), and they were less likely to work on both weekdays and weekends (26% compared to 30% of men).

Men who were multiple jobholders, were more likely to work Monday to Friday¹ than women who were multiple jobholders (56% compared to 48%). Women who were multiple jobholders, were more likely to work only on weekdays than men who were multiple jobholders (49% compared to 34%), and they were less likely to work on both weekdays and weekends (50% compared to 66% of men).

The majority of employees, who were single jobholders, usually worked 5 days of the week (66%). A further 7% usually worked 6 days of the week, while 4% usually worked 7 days of the week. In comparison, 39% of employees who were multiple jobholders usually worked 5 days of the week. A further 21% usually worked 6 days of the week, while 18% usually worked 7 days of the week.


EMPLOYEES (excluding OMIEs)

There were 3.2 million employees² (38%) who usually worked extra hours or overtime in November 2009. Of these, 42% were paid for the extra hours or overtime worked, 15% had compensation included in their salary package, 16% were entitled to receive time off in lieu and 3% were compensated in some other way. Over a quarter (27%) were not compensated for the extra hours or overtime worked.

In November 2009, there were 3.1 million employees² whose hours varied weekly or were usually required to be on call or standby. Of these, 11% had less than one day's notice about their work schedule while a further 35% had four or more weeks' notice about their work schedule.


Whether able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off

Of the 8.6 million employees², 3.4 million were able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off.

The industry with the highest proportion of employees² who were able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off was 'Public administration and safety' (60%) followed by 'Rental, hiring and real estate services' (55%). The industry with the lowest proportion of employees² who were able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off was 'Education and training' (25%).

Employees² who worked in the public sector were more likely to be able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off (44%) than those who worked in the private sector (38%).


Shift work

In November 2009, 1.4 million employees² usually worked shift work.

The industries with the highest proportion of employees² who usually worked shift work were 'Mining' for men (52%) and 'Health care and social assistance' and 'Accommodation and food services' for women (both 32%). The industries with the next highest proportions were 'Accommodation and food services' for men (44%) and 'Transport, postal and warehousing', 'Mining' and 'Arts and recreation services' for women (all 24%).

The industries with the lowest proportion of employees² who usually worked shift work were 'Education and training' and 'Financial and insurance services' for males (both 4%) and 'Construction', 'Professional, scientific and technical services' and 'Education and training' for females (all 1%).

A higher proportion of employees² aged 15-24 usually worked shift work (18%), than those in older age groups (15% of those aged 45-59, and 13% of those aged 60 and over).


Occupation of main job


Employees² who were 'Clerical and administrative workers' or 'Managers' were most likely to be able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off (both 53%). Employees² who were 'Labourers' were least likely to be able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off (24%).

Employees² who were 'Community and personal service workers' were most likely to usually work shift work (37%) followed by 'Machinery operators and drivers' (29%).


Full-time and part-time status in main job

In November 2009, there were 6.1 million employees² who were full-time employees² in their main job and 2.5 million part-time employees². Earnings did not vary from one pay period to the next for 81% of employees² who worked full-time in their main job, compared to 59% of employees² who worked part-time. Of full-time employees² in their main job, 91% were guaranteed a minimum number of hours of work, compared to 63% of employees² who worked part-time.

Women who were part-time employees² in their main job, were more likely to be required to be on call or standby (22%) than those who were full-time employees² (17%). In comparison, men who were full-time employees² in their main job were more likely to be required to be on call or standby (25%) than those who were part-time employees² (24%).

Other characteristics of full-time employees² in their main job include:

• 43% had some say in their start and finish times. Of these, 68% were able to choose their start and finish times on a day-to-day basis, while a further 22% negotiated their start and finish times in advance with their employer;
• 75% could choose when their holidays were taken; and
• 90% had paid leave entitlements.

Other characteristics of part-time employees² in their main job include:

• 39% had some say in their start and finish times. Of these, 56% were able to choose their start and finish times on a day-to-day basis, while a further 33% negotiated their start and finish times in advance with their employer;
• 69% could choose when their holidays were taken; and
• 45% had paid leave entitlements.

END NOTES

1. These people may also have worked on Saturday and/or Sunday in their job/s. See paragraphs 18-19 of the Explanatory Notes for more information.

2. Excluding OMIEs.