Miners, farmers, surgeons, and even politicians are among the occupations clocking Australia’s longest work hours, according to recent census data. An analysis by this publication reveals that assistant drillers, commonly employed at mine sites, lead the nation with an average of 70.3 hours per week. They are followed closely by drillers at 68 hours and shot firers, who prepare explosives for mining and construction, at 67.4 hours.
These demanding roles are predominantly found in regional and often remote areas. The top 20 occupations with the longest average full-time hours are primarily in mining and agriculture. However, neurosurgeons, averaging 58.1 hours, and members of parliament, at 58.5 hours, also feature prominently on this list.
Life on the Ground: Personal Accounts
Skye Jackat, a Queenslander, spent nine months working at an iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, doing the job that tops the list for longest hours. Her day began at 4 a.m. and ended around 8:30 p.m., in conditions often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
“It was insane, like 40 to 50 degrees most days during summer, doing 12 hours a day,” she said. “It was a lot on the body.”
Jackat, 31, lost 12 kilograms during her tenure, assisting in equipment preparation and driving large trucks for senior drillers. Despite the grueling schedule, she earned approximately $80,000 in nine months.
Sophie Kelly, a 25-year-old trainee driller, shares a similar story. Originally from New Zealand, she moved to Perth to work in the fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) sector, seeking financial stability and future savings. Despite the long hours and distance from family, she believes the hard work is worthwhile.
“Hard work pays off,” she said, acknowledging the challenges of the remote site and missing her family.
Gender Disparities and Work Patterns
The census indicates that 97% of driller’s assistants are men, highlighting a significant gender disparity in these demanding roles. Overall, only about 7% of occupations tracked by the Bureau of Statistics have average work hours of 50 or more per week. Nationwide, full-time workers average 43.7 hours weekly, with most jobs falling between 40 and 42.9 hours.
Caroline Deans, Census Director, notes that weekly full-time hours have remained consistent since data collection began in 1966. The most significant change occurred post-1983, when the national standard working week shifted from 40 to 38 hours.
“Back in the 70s people were working more hours, and as we went through the 80s and 90s, and today, there are slightly fewer hours worked by people,” she said.
Urban vs. Regional Work Hours
Full-time workers in urban areas generally work fewer hours than those in regional locations. Common city jobs, such as retail workers and office clerks, report average hours below the national average. According to KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley, industry needs significantly influence these differences.
“Mines are running 24 hours a day, so to speak, and mine workers are always busy when they are living on site,” he said. “Whereas with white-collar and other employees in urban areas, the traditional eight-hour shift drives work hours. That’s the social norm.”
Rawnsley also points out that social responsibilities, like household care, affect average work hours.
Economic and Social Implications
The census reveals that the high average hours in mining are partly due to FIFO work patterns, where employees work intensively for weeks before taking rest periods. Deans notes that during the census, 12% of mining workers reported zero hours the previous week, while 33% reported more than 80 hours.
Professor Brian Evans from Curtin University’s WA School of Mines suggests that the reported 70 hours for a driller’s assistant might under-represent the actual time spent working. Despite the rigorous hours, the financial rewards can be significant, as evidenced by affluent neighborhoods housing many drillers.
Professor John Buchanan from Sydney University Business School highlights a gap between the average full-time hours and the Fair Work Commission’s 38-hour standard, suggesting unpaid work is prevalent.
“Employers have really benefited from the commitment of workers to get the job done,” Buchanan said, noting a decline in overtime payments over the past three decades.
Future Outlook
The number of full-time workers in Australia surpassed 10 million last year, with women increasingly joining the workforce. By July 2025, women are expected to comprise 40% of full-time employees. However, men still work more hours on average, largely due to male-dominated jobs with long hours.
Separate ABS figures show that women spend more time on unpaid work, including housework and childcare, than men. This disparity highlights ongoing gender roles in household responsibilities.
The census, conducted in August to avoid seasonal fluctuations, provides a snapshot of work experiences across industries. However, it may not fully capture the variability in agricultural or seasonal jobs.
As the workforce evolves, these insights into work hours and patterns will continue to shape discussions on employment standards and gender equality in Australia.
