Sydney’s most dedicated workers are concentrated in a dozen suburbs surrounding Sydney Harbour, according to a recent analysis of census data. Residents of The Rocks, a historic neighborhood at the northern end of Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD), work the longest hours, averaging 46.9 hours per week. Close behind are Darling Point and Longueville, where full-time employees average 46.7 hours weekly.
These 12 suburbs, all located near the CBD and mostly adjacent to the harbour, not only boast the longest work weeks but also rank among the top 20 highest income neighborhoods in Sydney. Across Greater Sydney, full-time workers average 42.7 hours per week, a figure potentially skewed by the COVID-19 pandemic’s disruptions during the last census in August 2021.
Work Patterns Across Sydney
While many of Sydney’s common occupations, such as office clerks and accountants, adhere to the traditional 9-to-5 schedule, others like body artists have more varied routines. Tyson Hennings, a body artist at Skin Deep Tattoo Studio in Newtown, often works long days, sometimes from 10 a.m. until midnight.
“I’m usually here from about 10 in the morning until midnight, maybe even after midnight,” Hennings shared. “We’re a walk-in shop, so we’re here for the people and not everybody can come in during the day, so people often come in at night.”
Hennings, who works under the tattooing name Lordmayor, finds motivation in the creativity and variety his job offers. “It’s always fun coming to work,” he said. “There’s always something different going on with the people who come into the shop. Working on the different [tattoo] designs for people is refreshing – it resets the mind.”
Small Business Challenges
Small business owners like Gerardo Barrios also face long hours. Barrios, who owns Don Adan’s Coffee Tree in Mosman and Don Adan Coffee Too in Cremorne, often works late to manage paperwork and compliance tasks.
“The cafes can be quite hands-on; there’s always someone or something wanting your time,” Barrios explained. “You can’t do paperwork when you’re engaged with customers … so you have to dedicate time outside the cafe just to do the admin.”
Barrios estimates he and his wife work “50 to 60” hours a week. His cafes are located in suburbs where workers also report long average work weeks, with Mosman workers averaging 45.6 hours and Cremorne workers 44.3 hours.
According to Daniel Hunter, CEO of Business NSW, regulation burdens contribute significantly to the long hours small business owners endure.
“Small business owners need solutions, not more hurdles,” Hunter stated. “Staff shortages, rising costs and red tape are pushing them to work longer hours just to keep their doors open. Many feel they’ve got no choice but to do everything themselves … firing up the laptop after the kids have gone to bed is a common thing.”
Broader Trends and Implications
Full-time workers in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, north shore, inner west, and north-western suburbs generally work longer hours than the citywide average. This trend extends to commuter suburbs in the outer west and south-west. However, across Greater Sydney, work hours are relatively consistent, with most suburbs reporting averages between 40 and 42.9 hours per week.
Only three suburbs report average work weeks under 40 hours: Nirimba Fields, Melonba, and Airds. KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley notes that these variations are often due to the types of jobs prevalent in different areas.
“In some areas, especially western Sydney, a lot of people are employed in sectors which tend to have typical work hours that are a little lower than average, such as retail,” Rawnsley explained.
High-paying occupations dominate the suburbs where workers exceed 45 hours per week. In Balgowlah Heights, Birchgrove, Hunters Hill, Millers Point, and Point Piper, the most common job is chief executive officer, with CEOs working an average of 49.5 hours weekly. Solicitors, another common profession in these areas, work an average of 46.5 hours per week.
Meanwhile, Sydney’s most common job, general sales assistant, averages 40.5 hours per week, slightly below the citywide average. The number of full-time workers in New South Wales has grown significantly, with 3.1 million full-timers reported last month, an increase of about half a million over the past decade. The proportion of female full-time workers has also risen, from 37% in August 2015 to 41% in August 2025.
As Sydney continues to evolve, the dynamics of work and lifestyle remain a crucial area of interest, reflecting broader economic and social trends. For those looking to understand how their own work hours compare, interactive tools and visual stories are available to explore average hours worked by occupation and suburb.
