The survey conducted in September, shows that 47 per cent of full-time workforce normally works unpaid overtime each week, and the average amount worked is 7.9 hours.

When part-time and casual workers are included, unpaid weekly overtime is 37 per cent and the amount worked is 7.3 hours a week.

Unpaid overtime is twice as common among white collar workers as it is among blue collar workers, and white collar workers do more of it – 7.4 hours compared with 6.1.

The practice of working unpaid overtime is most prevalent in Melbourne and Sydney, where 40 and 41 per cent respectively say they normally work it each week. It is least prevalent in Adelaide (21 per cent).

Workers aged between 25 and 39 do more of it (8.3 hours) than others. Its incidence among these workers, at 40 per cent, is higher than the average. Young workers aged 18 to 24 do the least (4.4 hours) and its incidence among them is much lower than the average (24 per cent).

Slightly more women than men work unpaid overtime (38 and 35 per cent), but men work more of it (8.2 hours compared with 6.8).

It is perhaps not surprising, then, that a significant minority of people in the workforce, particularly full time and white collar workers, would like to work fewer hours than they currently work:

The Chief Executive of JOB futures, Mr Robert Tickner, said, “the latest poll results are staggering and have important implications for the economy and for future debates about working hours, family life, income levels and international competitiveness.”

The full report is available from the Job futures website.