May 08, 2009

Embargoed: 11.30 am (AEST)

24/2009

Almost a quarter (24% or 2.4 million) of people employed in November 2008 worked some hours at home in either their main or second job, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

'Catching up on work' was the main reason given and this was reported by over one-third (34%) of people who worked at home in their main or second job, followed by 'wanting an office at home/no overheads/no rent' (22% of people).

Men who worked some hours at home were most commonly managers or professionals (both 31%), followed by technicians and trade workers (18%); women who worked some hours at home were most likely to be professionals (39%) followed by clerical and administrative workers (23%).

Around one in every 12 employed persons (764,700 persons or 8%) worked more hours at home than any other single location in their main or second job. Of these people:

• The majority (83%) were aged 35 years or older
• 55% were women
• 39% were in families that had children aged under 15 years old
• The main reason for working from home was 'wanting an office at home/no overheads/no rent' (37%), followed by 'operating a farm' (21%) and 'flexible working arrangements' (15%)
• 31% worked 35 hours or more at home in all jobs.

The proportion of employed people who worked only or mainly at home in their main or second job remained unchanged from November 2005 to November 2008 at 8%.

People who were owner managers in their main job were much more likely to use their own home for their main location of work (27% of the 1.9 million owner managers) than employees(1.4% of the 8.2 million employees^*). Women who were owner managers in their main job were more likely to use their own home for their main location of work than male owner managers (45% compared with 18%).

The survey collected further information about the number and types of locations of work. Of the 10.1 million people at work in November 2008, 41% worked at two or more locations in their main job.

Further details can be found in Locations of Work, Australia, November 2008 (cat. no. 6275.0).

* Employees excluding owner managers of incorporated enterprises.

Media Note : Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or the ABS) as the source.