Editing Working time (section)

=== Australia ===
In Australia, between 1974 and 1997 no marked change took place in the average amount of time spent at work by Australians of "prime working age" (that is, between 25 and 54 years of age). Throughout this period, the average time spent at work by prime working-age Australians (including those who did not spend any time at work) remained stable at between 27 and 28 hours per week. This unchanging average, however, masks a significant redistribution of work from men to women. Between 1974 and 1997, the average time spent at work by prime working-age Australian men fell from 45 to 36 hours per week, while the average time spent at work by prime working-age Australian women rose from 12 to 19 hours per week. In the period leading up to 1997, the amount of time Australian workers spent at work outside the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays also increased.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bittman |first1=Michael |last2=Rice |first2=James Mahmud |date=2002 |title=The spectre of overwork: An analysis of trends between 1974 and 1997 using Australian time-use diaries |url=http://www.jamesmahmudrice.info/Overwork.pdf |journal=Labour and Industry |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=5–25 |doi=10.1080/10301763.2002.10722021 |s2cid=143708776 |access-date=2020-11-15}}</ref>

In 2009, a rapid increase in the number of working hours was reported in a study by The Australia Institute. The study found the average Australian worked 1855 hours per year at work. According to Clive Hamilton of The Australia Institute, this surpasses even Japan. The Australia Institute believes that Australians work the highest number of hours in the developed world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1247577.htm |title=PM – Australians work longest hours in the developed world |publisher=Abc.net.au |date=2004-11-19 |access-date=2011-01-31}}</ref>

The 38 hour working week was introduced in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/legislation/the-fair-work-system/australias-industrial-relations-timeline |title=Australia's industrial relations timeline |publisher=Fair Work Ombudsman |access-date=2022-01-15}}</ref>

The majority of full-time employees in Australia work additional overtime hours. A 2015 survey found that of Australia's 7.7&nbsp;million full-time workers, 5&nbsp;million put in more than 40 hours a week, including 1.4&nbsp;million who worked more than 50 hours a week and 270,000 who put in more than 70 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/the-38hour-week-a-rarity-among-fulltime-workers-new-data-shows-20151027-gkk1r6.html|title=The 38-hour week a rarity among full-time workers, new data shows|first=Peter|last=Martin|date=29 October 2015}}</ref>