Hybrid work pattern takes hold in Australia

In September, Australians on average did just over four days of paid work per week, of which one day was working from home, according to a new travel survey by the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies in the University of Sydney Business School.

Almost all occupations worked less from home than they did in March this year. Managers, professionals, and clerical and administrative workers continue to work with the highest number of days from home at 2.77, 2.92, and 2.65 days every fortnight, respectively.

However, machine operators and labourers have fully returned to their main workplace, given that their jobs are predominantly done on-site, while technicians have also reduced their work-from-home days by almost half since their role requires them to also work primarily on-site.

Sales workers were an outlier as they increased their working from home by about 19 %, from an average of 1.52 days per fortnight in March 2022 up to 1.81 days per fortnight in September. 

Paid workers were found to spend about 4% of their work hours at places other than their office or home, such as at a satellite office, cafe, or library.  

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“These findings align with what looks like the ‘new normal’ in terms of hybrid working, with one to two days a week working from home and three to four days from the office. However, the office may not always be where it was before, but a satellite office closer to home with shared space. We are starting to see some signs of stabilising hybrid work patterns,” said Professor David Hensher, Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies.