West Australians work longer hours than those living in any other state or territory, new data shows, with the state’s population dedicating more time to their profession than they were before the pandemic.
The Commonwealth Bank’s State and Territory Quarterly Perspective, released on Monday, found WA had the strongest economy in the country with economic opportunities bringing in high numbers of interstate and overseas migrants.
Those in WA have worked the most hours since 2020.Credit: iStock
While those in WA have increased their hours at work by 14.3 per cent since the beginning of 2020, those in NSW were not far behind, dedicating an additional 14.2 per cent.
An increased momentum in hours worked also occurred in Victoria and, to a lesser extent, NSW. In Tasmania and SA hours worked broadly plateaued.
WA has drawn the highest number of overseas migrants – a 3.3 per cent growth since 2019 – a likely link to the higher number of working hours.
There has also been a demand for interstate migration, with WA and Queensland the most in-demand destinations, while residents in NSW continue to leave in large numbers.
The number of hours worked is also linked to employment rates, with WA experiencing high rates of employment growth and the lowest rate of unemployment in the country.
The housing market in Perth is surging, too, but from a lower base due to weak longer-term performance, meaning housing affordability remains comparatively better than other cities despite recent price rises.
However, a lack of supply and listings for remains a real challenge. CoreLogic notes that in Perth, alongside Adelaide and Brisbane, the number of properties for sale sits 40 per cent below five-year averages.