WORKING TIME ARRANGEMENTS, QUEENSLAND, NOVEMBER 2006

Overview
Employees in Main Job
Employees (Excluding OMIEs)
End Notes


OVERVIEW

The working arrangements of employees are important because they impact on the social and economic wellbeing of employees and their families. Access to flexible working hours is of particular interest because of the potential to assist employees in balancing work and family responsibilities.

Statistics in this article were extracted from the Working Time Arrangements Survey conducted in November 2006, which was a supplement to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS). The survey examined factors about the working arrangements of employees in their main job such as shift work, extra hours or overtime and flexibility in start and finish times.

The Working Time Arrangements Survey collects information on employed persons aged 15 years and over who worked in their main job for an employer (and either received remuneration in wages or salary, received a retainer fee from their employer while working on a commission basis, or were paid in tips or piece rates) or operated their own incorporated enterprise with or without employees. Owner managers of incorporated enterprises (OMIEs) are legally defined as employees, but some of their employment characteristics and employment arrangements differ from other employees.

Contributing family workers and employees aged 15-19 years who were attending school were excluded from the survey. For a comprehensive list of scope definitions, see the explanatory notes of the following ABS publication: Working Time Arrangements, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 6342.0).

EMPLOYEES IN MAIN JOB

In Queensland in November 2006, there were 1.7 million employees aged 15 years and over of which 8% were owner managers of incorporated enterprises (OMIEs) and 92% were employees (excluding OMIEs).

Single and multiple jobholders

In November 2006, 54% of employees who were single jobholders were men. More women (54%) than women were multiple jobholders.

There were 1.6 million employees who were single jobholders in Queensland in November 2006. Of these:

• 15% usually worked on Saturdays and 7.2% usually worked on Sundays
• 69% worked on weekdays only, while 30% worked on both weekdays and weekends
• 30% usually worked between 7pm and 7am.

Men who were single jobholders were more likely to work Monday to Friday¹ than women who were single jobholders (76% compared to 59%) and men were also more likely to usually work some hours between 7pm and 7am (33% compared to 27% of women).

There were 92,800 employees who were multiple jobholders in Queensland in November 2006. Of these:

• 43% usually worked on Saturdays and 28% usually worked on Sundays
• 39% worked on weekdays only, while 61% worked on both weekdays and weekends
• 59% usually worked between 7pm and 7am.

Men who were multiple jobholders were more likely to work Monday to Friday¹ than women who were multiple jobholders (82% compared to 53%) and men were also more likely to usually work some hours between 7pm and 7am (60% compared to 57% of women).

The majority of employees who were single jobholders usually worked five days of the week (68%). A further 9.2% usually worked six days of the week, while 3.8% usually worked seven days of the week. In comparison, 37% of employees who were multiple jobholders usually worked five days of the week. A further 21% usually worked six days of the week while 23% usually worked seven days of the week.



EMPLOYEES (Excluding OMIEs)

In Queensland in November 2006, there were 1.6 million employees² aged 15 years and over. Of these:

• 75% had paid leave entitlements
• 60% did not have any say in their work start and finish times
• 71% could choose when their holidays were taken
• 40% were able to work extra hours in order to take time off
• 36% usually worked extra hours or overtime
• 18% usually worked shift work
• 24% had earnings which varied from one pay period to the next
• 37% had hours that varied or they were usually required to be on call or standby.

The working time arrangements experienced by Queensland employees² were similar to those at the national level.

Male and female employees² in Queensland reported similar patterns of working time arrangements. Four-fifths (80%) of male employees² had access to paid leave entitlements, compared to 70% of female employees², reflecting a higher proportion of females who were casual. Men (39%) were also more likely than women (32%) to usually work extra hours or overtime.


Full-time and part-time employees²

In November 2006, full-time employees² in Queensland, generally reported better working time arrangements than part-time employees². Full-time employees² (86%) were more likely to have paid leave entitlements than part-time employees² (42%). Those working full-time were also more likely to be able to choose when they could take their leave (73% compared with 66% for part-time employees²).

Earnings did not vary from one pay period to the next for 82% of employees² who worked full-time in their main job compared to 61% of employees² who worked part-time. Full-time employees² were less likely to have hours that varied weekly or were usually required to be on standby, compared to part-time employees² (35% compared to 42%).

A greater proportion of full-time employees² (44%) were able to work extra hours to take time off than part-time employees² (29%) and full-time employees² were more likely to usually work extra hours or overtime (42% compared to 19% of part-time employees²). A higher proportion of part-time employees² (21%) than full-time employees² (17%) usually worked shift work.




Industry specific working time arrangements

Public administration and safety and Electricity, gas, water and waste services had the highest proportion of employees² with paid leave entitlements (92% each). Accommodation and food services was the only industry where less than half (40%) of employees² had paid leave entitlements. In almost all industries, more than half (60% or higher) the employees² were able to choose when holidays are taken except for Education and training, where only 28% of employees² reported having this entitlement.
Industries with high proportions of employees² with paid leave entitlements were also most likely to have employees² who are able to choose when their holidays are taken.

In November 2006, less than one-quarter (24%) of Queensland employees² in the Mining industry had some say in their start and finish times. Employees² in Public administration and safety and Professional, scientific and technical services (60% each) had the highest say in start and finish times.

The industries with the highest proportions of employees² who were able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off, all with 60%, were Professional, scientific and technical services; Electricity, gas, water and waste services and Public administration and safety. Employees² in the Education and training industry (28%) were least likely to be able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off.

Only the Electricity, gas, water and waste services industry had more than half (53%) of its employees² usually working extra hours or overtime. Industries with the lowest proportions of employees² usually working extra hours or overtime were Administrative and support services (22%) and Arts and recreation services and Accommodation and food services (25% each).

In Queensland in November 2006, the Mining industry was the only industry to have more than half (53%) of its employees² usually working shift work. Other industries with high proportions of shift workers were Accommodation and food services (43%) and Health care and social assistance (35%).

The Accommodation and food services industry had the highest proportion of employees² whose earnings varied from one pay period to the next (44%) and the second highest proportion of employees² whose hours varied weekly or were usually required to be on standby (51%). The Education and training industry had the lowest proportions of employees² whose earnings varied from one pay period to the next (7.3%) and the second lowest proportion of employees² whose hours varied weekly or were usually required to be on standby (27%).

	With paid leave entitlements	Had some say in start and finish times	Could choose when their holidays are taken	Able to choose to work extra hours for time off	Usually work extra hours or overtime	Usually worked shift work	Earnings varied from one period to the next	Hours varied weekly or required to be on standby
PER CENT
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	51.8	42.9	62.0	37.8	26.5	*8.0	26.8	54.7
Mining	90.6	24.1	68.5	35.5	31.4	52.6	19.8	36.0
Manufacturing	81.5	34.2	71.2	44.6	38.6	20.0	19.3	33.9
Electricity, gas, water and waste services	91.7	53.6	88.1	60.3	52.7	**2.0	*23.7	48.3
Construction	72.0	36.3	72.0	44.6	35.3	7.8	25.4	38.0
Wholesale trade	80.0	43.9	79.7	42.6	40.2	*7.1	15.8	31.6
Retail trade	63.3	31.2	73.8	32.7	28.5	15.9	30.1	35.3
Accommodation and food services	40.0	33.4	71.3	29.2	25.1	42.7	43.9	51.4
Transport, postal and warehousing	72.4	31.1	74.3	32.7	39.8	30.1	33.4	50.3
Information media and telecommunications	81.8	34.8	66.6	32.4	39.9	*15.4	26.6	35.3
Financial and insurance services	90.1	52.4	86.0	42.2	44.2	*2.7	*9.1	18.9
Rental, hiring and real estate services	73.7	47.9	81.8	45.4	38.3	*10.1	23.6	48.5
Professional, scientific and technical services	83.4	59.7	80.9	60.4	44.4	*3.0	14.1	26.8
Administrative and support services	60.2	33.6	69.6	28.6	22.0	15.9	25.6	34.7
Public administration and safety	91.9	59.8	83.3	60.2	39.2	16.6	13.5	33.6
Education and training	84.4	35.6	28.4	28.4	45.8	*2.0	7.3	26.8
Health care and social assistance	78.8	35.3	77.1	33.5	34.2	35.2	33.7	43.8
Arts and recreation services	52.9	38.8	73.2	34.5	24.8	*22.5	38.2	45.8
Other services	76.4	43.6	86.3	45.7	27.2	*7.4	17.1	30.9
All industries	74.8	39.2	71.4	39.7	35.8	17.8	23.7	37.1
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution. ** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use. Source: Working Arrangements, Australia (cat. no. 6342.0)

Occupation specific working time arrangements

In November 2006 in Queensland, Managers (92%) reported the highest proportion of employees² with paid leave entitlements and the highest proportion of employees² who were able to choose when holidays were taken (80%). Professionals (89%) were the second highest occupation group having paid leave entitlements, however they had the lowest proportion of employees² who were able to choose when holidays were taken (60%). Just over one-half (52%) of Labourers had paid leave entitlements.

Of all occupation groups, Managers (65%) and Clerical and administrative workers (52%) had the highest proportions of employees with some say in start and finish times, while Machinery operators and drivers (22%) and Labourers (26%) had the least say.

More than half the Clerical and administrative workers (53%) and Managers (52%) were able to choose to work extra hours in order to take time off. In comparison, only one-quarter (25%) of Labourers could do the same.

In November 2006, more than half the Managers (56%) and Professionals (51%) in Queensland reported that they usually worked extra hours or overtime.

Of all occupation groups, Community and personal service workers (44%) were most likely to usually work shift work and Clerical and administrative workers (5.5%) were least likely.

Less than one-sixth (15%) of Managers had earnings that varied from one period to the next, however more than half (51%) of the same group had hours that varied weekly or were usually required to be on call or standby.

	With paid leave entitlements	Had some say in start and finish times	Could choose when their holidays are taken	Able to choose to work extra hours for time off	Usually work extra hours or overtime	Usually worked shift work	Earnings varied from one period to the next	Hours varied weekly or required to be on standby
PER CENT
Managers	91.9	65.2	80.3	52.1	56.1	10.7	14.7	50.5
Professionals	88.8	46.9	60.0	39.8	51.2	14.2	16.3	33.1
Technicians and trades workers	82.4	34.0	75.5	44.4	38.1	14.2	17.4	35.9
Community and personal service workers	61.0	26.0	69.2	29.0	25.3	43.5	40.1	46.6
Clerical and administrative workers	80.7	51.5	79.8	53.3	29.5	5.5	13.5	25.2
Sales workers	57.4	35.2	73.7	33.8	25.6	17.3	37.7	38.9
Machinery operators and drivers	71.7	21.5	70.4	31.0	34.9	31.2	29.0	41.8
Labourers	52.1	25.6	64.9	25.3	23.0	20.7	35.0	39.7
All occupations	74.8	39.2	71.4	39.7	35.8	17.8	23.7	37.1

Source: Working Arrangements, Australia (cat. no. 6342.0)

END NOTES

1. For the data item 'Days of the week usually worked in all jobs', people who reported that they worked from Monday to Friday, inclusive, were categorised as working Monday to Friday. These people may have reported that they also worked on Saturday and Sunday in their job/s. People who reported that the usual days of the week worked varied were categorised only to days varied. A response of days varied could not be provided with any other response.

2. Excluding owner managers of incorporated enterprises.