Australians work longer hours

A University of Sydney study reveals Australians are working some of the longest hours in the developed world.

The survey reveals 20% of Australians work more than 50 hours a week, while full-time employees average 44 hours. One in three respondents want to work less hours.

But job security is also a worry, with one in three saying they hold a job that does not offer them full worker protection.

Brigid van Wanrooy, head of the study, says workers are clearly under pressure. “It is not a simple case of casual employment is `bad’ and permanent employment is `good’,” van Wanrooy says.

“Casual employees face job insecurity, but many permanent employees work very long hours. All workers face trade-offs between control over working hours, security of employment and quality of work.”