Australian employees are working fewer hours today than they were 10 years ago.

The average decrease in work hours over the past decade is equivalent to two weeks per year.

Erin Gregor reports.

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Bankwest’s Working Times report showed average full time working hours has decreased from 42.7 hours to 41.4.

The trend has been led by under 25s averaging just over 39 hours per week.

Dr Amanda Gudmundsson, Workplace expert: “People really are looking for work life balance based on a range of things, not just their family roles but also other roles they play in the community.”

The study showed 35 to 54 year olds are working more than 42 hours per week, but they’d be happy to see this drop.

Vox 1: “Ideally, 40, just a regular 40 hours would be fine.”

Vox 2: “Eight hours a day, 5 days a week. That’s a good shift.”

Vox 3: “Probably around forty, because I do construction jobs and we do abut 70 hours a week.”

Farmers spend the most time at work, averaging 50.9 hours per week, closely followed by entrepreneurs who work an average of 50.7 hours.

Even though the average number of office hours has dropped, advancements in technology mean more people are taking their work home.

Dr Amanda Gudmundsson, Workplace expert: “They found that having that technology at home actually invaded their home life and made it more difficult for them to balance their work and family, so it actually made it more difficult for them to separate their work and their family.”

West Australia is the hardest working state, averaging more that 42 hours, while employees in the ACT put in the least hours at just over 39 hours per week.

Erin Gregor, QUT News.