Australians are known for their strong work ethic, which has contributed to the country’s robust economy and high standard of living. According to the World Population Review, the average Australian worker puts in 1,707 hours per year – 175 hours more than the average in the U.K., 100 more than Japan and 366 more than Germany. In recent years, many people have switched to working from home, which can extend work hours even further.
But just how hard do Australians work compared to one another? Snow Season Central compares the top 50 most populated cities (50 largest urban areas in Australia by the Significant Urban Area** measure using the latest Census data) across 11 key metrics to determine which cities outwork the rest in Australia. Our data set ranges from employment rates to average weekly work hours to the share of workers holding multiple jobs.
Key Findings
- Warrnambool is Australia’s hardest-working city, with a total score of 81.09. This city leads in factors such as employment rates and volunteering participation.
- Kalgoorlie and Alice Springs are also among the top contenders, known for their high average workweek hours and multiple job-holding.
- Canberra ranks as Australia’s hardest-working capital city, with a score of 74.37, excelling in having the lowest rate of idle youth and residents doing voluntary work.
- New South Wales dominates the top 10 hardest-working cities, with five entries.
Top 10 hardest-working cities in Australia
Surprisingly, Warrnambool secures the top spot as Australia’s hardest-working city. New South Wales cities dominate the top 10, with 5 entries, while Victoria and Western Australia follow behind with 2 each. Notably, none of the capital cities feature in the top 10 list.
| Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Direct Work Factors Rank | Indirect Work Factors Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warrnambool, VIC | 81.09 | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | Kalgoorlie, WA | 80.27 | 1 | 50 |
| 3 | Alice Springs, NT | 78.77 | 4 | 47 |
| 4 | Warragul, VIC | 77.79 | 7 | 8 |
| 5 | Bowral, NSW | 76.61 | 16 | 7 |
| 6 | Bathurst, NSW | 76.42 | 8 | 24 |
| 7 | Tamworth, NSW | 76.32 | 5 | 33 |
| 8 | Albany, WA | 76.29 | 6 | 43 |
| 9 | Dubbo, NSW | 75.85 | 17 | 40 |
| 10 | Orange, NSW | 75.55 | 18 | 19 |
How Australia’s Capital Cities Compare
Australia’s capital cities reveal striking differences when it comes to hard work, with Canberra taking the top spot as the hardest-working city in the nation. Canberra, ranked 1st with a score of 74.37, excelling in indirect factors like volunteering and unpaid domestic work. Darwin follows closely with 73.96, leading in direct work efforts such as long working hours.
Melbourne ranks 3rd (70.34), while Sydney lands 4th (68.92), with strong indirect work contributions. Perth (68.84) excels in direct work metrics, followed by Hobart (68.23), and Adelaide (67.19), balancing strong community engagement with work commitments.
| Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Direct Work Factors Rank | Indirect Work Factors Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canberra | 74.37 | 4 | 1 |
| 2 | Darwin | 73.96 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Melbourne | 70.34 | 5 | 5 |
| 4 | Sydney | 68.92 | 7 | 4 |
| 5 | Perth | 68.84 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Hobart | 68.23 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | Adelaide | 67.19 | 6 | 2 |
Hardest-Working Cities in Australia
| Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Direct Work Factors Rank | Indirect Work Factors Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warrnambool, VIC | 81.09 | 3 | 5 |
| 2 | Kalgoorlie, WA | 80.27 | 1 | 50 |
| 3 | Alice Springs, NT | 78.77 | 4 | 47 |
| 4 | Warragul, VIC | 77.79 | 7 | 8 |
| 5 | Bowral, NSW | 76.61 | 16 | 7 |
| 6 | Bathurst, NSW | 76.42 | 8 | 24 |
| 7 | Tamworth, NSW | 76.32 | 5 | 33 |
| 8 | Albany, WA | 76.29 | 6 | 43 |
| 9 | Dubbo, NSW | 75.85 | 17 | 40 |
| 10 | Orange, NSW | 75.55 | 18 | 19 |
| 11 | Devonport, TAS | 74.79 | 2 | 44 |
| 12 | Wagga Wagga, NSW | 74.5 | 13 | 13 |
| 13 | Canberra, ACT | 74.37 | 31 | 3 |
| 14 | Darwin, NT | 73.96 | 19 | 48 |
| 15 | Ballina, NSW | 73.66 | 35 | 4 |
| 16 | Mackay, QLD | 73.52 | 11 | 36 |
| 17 | Busselton, WA | 73.17 | 27 | 34 |
| 18 | Albury, NSW | 73.03 | 21 | 17 |
| 19 | Geelong, VIC | 72.92 | 26 | 38 |
| 20 | Nowra, NSW | 72.71 | 15 | 30 |
| 21 | Shepparton, VIC | 72.56 | 22 | 22 |
| 22 | Bendigo, VIC | 72.18 | 34 | 9 |
| 23 | Geraldton, WA | 72.03 | 10 | 49 |
| 24 | Traralgon, VIC | 71.91 | 9 | 35 |
| 25 | Ballarat, VIC | 71.63 | 30 | 6 |
| 26 | Mildura, VIC | 71.56 | 25 | 21 |
| 27 | Port Macquarie, NSW | 71.01 | 37 | 10 |
| 28 | Melbourne, VIC | 70.34 | 36 | 39 |
| 29 | Coffs Harbour, NSW | 70.18 | 33 | 16 |
| 30 | Launceston, TAS | 70.11 | 12 | 27 |
| 31 | Newcastle, NSW | 69.82 | 44 | 26 |
| 32 | Wollongong, NSW | 69.48 | 47 | 23 |
| 33 | Toowoomba, QLD | 69.36 | 28 | 15 |
| 34 | Rockhampton, QLD | 69.22 | 24 | 32 |
| 35 | Central Coast, NSW | 69.09 | 49 | 28 |
| 36 | Sydney, NSW | 68.92 | 46 | 37 |
| 37 | Victor Harbor, SA | 68.91 | 20 | 1 |
| 38 | Townsville, QLD | 68.91 | 32 | 29 |
| 39 | Perth, WA | 68.84 | 29 | 42 |
| 40 | Mount Gambier, SA | 68.62 | 42 | 2 |
| 41 | Hobart, TAS | 68.23 | 23 | 20 |
| 42 | Bunbury, WA | 67.97 | 43 | 46 |
| 43 | Gold Coast, QLD | 67.65 | 41 | 45 |
| 44 | Sunshine Coast, QLD | 67.63 | 50 | 14 |
| 45 | Brisbane, QLD | 67.37 | 40 | 11 |
| 46 | Adelaide, SA | 67.19 | 38 | 12 |
| 47 | Gladstone, QLD | 66.78 | 14 | 18 |
| 48 | Cairns, QLD | 65.94 | 45 | 25 |
| 49 | Bundaberg, QLD | 65.3 | 39 | 31 |
| 50 | Hervey Bay, QLD | 61.42 | 48 | 41 |
In-Depth Look at the Hardest-Working Cities
Warrnambool
Warrnambool, Australia’s hardest-working city, stands out with the lowest share of households where no adults work—just 3%. With 9.3% of residents holding multiple jobs, the fifth-highest rate in the country, the city embodies the resilience and dedication of its workforce. Beyond work, 18% of residents participate in local volunteer groups or organisations, a figure 24% higher than the national average.
Additionally, 64% of workers in Warrnambool leave their vacation time unused, one of the highest rates in the country.
Kalgoorlie
Ranked second, Kalgoorlie is notable for its high employment rate (96%) and for having the highest average workweek hours (38.2) in the country. Outside of work, 17% of the city’s residents are members of local volunteer groups or organisations, the seventh-highest rate in the country.
Alice Springs
Alice Springs residents are the third-hardest workers in the country, ranking ninth in the country for its impressive employment figures (90%), with many residents juggling multiple roles. In fact, nearly 7% of workers have multiple jobs, the twelfth-highest rate in the country.
Conclusion
Australia’s hardest-working cities exemplify the nation’s commitment to work, productivity, and job performance across various sectors. The strong employment rates and dedication to multiple jobs in these cities highlight the resilience of the Australian workforce. However, as we celebrate the dedication of these cities, it’s also essential to acknowledge the importance of work-life balance. Taking time to recharge and find downtime outside of job commitments is crucial for ensuring long-term well-being and sustained productivity.
Methodology
To determine where the hardest-working Australians live, Snow Season Central compared 50 of the most populated cities across two key dimensions, “Direct Work Factors” and “Indirect Work Factors.”
We evaluated those dimensions using 11 key metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the “hardest-working.” Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available only at the state level.
We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.
Direct Work Factors – Total Points: 80
- Average Workweek Hours: (~35 Points)
- Employment Rate: (~12 Points)
- Unemployment Rate: (~12 Points)
- Share of Workers Leaving Vacation Time Unused*: (10.5. Points)
- Idle Youth (16-24) Rate*: (~10.5 Points)
Indirect Work Factors – Total Points: 20
- Average Commute Time: (~3.35 Points)
- Share of Workers with Multiple Jobs: (~3.33 Points)
- Share of Residents Doing Organised Voluntary Work: (~3.33 Points)
- Informal Volunteering Rates*: (~3.33 Points)
- Average Free Time Spent per Day*: (~3.33 Points)
- Percentage of People Doing Unpaid Domestic Work: (~3.33 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of September 8, 2024, from the Australia Census Bureau, ABS Survey of Education and Work, Volunteering Australia, and other public datasets.
*Please note that statewide numbers have been used due to a lack of accurate city-specific data.
**The Significant Urban Area of ‘Canberra, ACT – Queanbeyan, NSW’ is referred to as ‘Canberra, ACT’ and all similar significant urban areas follow the same reference throughout.
