More than half of Australia’s full-time employees now spend at least part of their working week at home, with the trend most pronounced in the nation’s largest metropolitan areas, according to new Roy Morgan research.
The survey shows that 6.7 million Australians — or 46% of the total employed population — work from home at least some of the time. That proportion climbs to 51% among full-time employees, while just over a third (36%) of part-time workers enjoy similar arrangements.
Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said the latest findings confirmed remote work had become “a permanent and distinct feature of Australia’s employment sector”, reshaping how and where Australians do their jobs.
The capital cities dominate the work-from-home map, led by Sydney where 55% of workers now spend part of their week away from the office. Melbourne (52%) and Canberra (51%) are close behind. In smaller capitals, the rates are lower — Hobart (45%), Adelaide (44%), Brisbane (43%) and Perth (40%).
In regional Australia, work-from-home rates are significantly lower, with Queensland topping the list at 40% and Western Australia trailing at just 31%. NSW (39%), Victoria (36%), the Northern Territory (34%) and South Australia (33%) also fall below the national average.
The likelihood of working from home varies sharply across sectors. The finance and insurance industry leads with 66% of workers operating remotely, followed by communications (61%), property and business services (57%), and public administration and defence (56%). By contrast, retail has the lowest rate at 31%, alongside recreation and personal services (37%) and transport and storage (38%).
Income levels also influence remote work access. Two-thirds (64%) of those earning $300,000 or more work from home, compared with much lower rates for those on modest incomes.
Workplace size is another factor. Sole traders and the self-employed have the highest proportion of remote work at 55%. Small businesses with 5–24 employees are least likely to offer the arrangement, with just 38% working from home.
The Victorian Government has pledged to legislate the right for eligible workers to work from home at least two days a week, a move expected to reignite national debate over the benefits and drawbacks of remote work. Supporters point to increased flexibility, reduced commuting, and improved work-life balance, while critics raise concerns over collaboration, workplace culture, and long-term productivity.
The findings come ahead of next week’s federal Economic Reform Roundtable, which will bring together leaders from business, unions, civil society, and government. Among the key issues on the agenda will be ways to lift productivity and address Australia’s persistently high labour under-utilisation, which currently affects more than 3.3 million people. The role of remote work in meeting these challenges is likely to be a central talking point.
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