The 46-hour week: The Melbourne suburbs clocking the city’s longest working hours
Affluent bayside suburbs with many executives and senior managers are home to Melbourne’s longest-working residents. Data from census analysis by The Age indicates that professionals living in certain coastal neighborhoods spend significantly more time at work than the average Melburnian.
Top suburbs with longest workweeks
- Middle Park: 46 hours and 49 minutes per week
- Albert Park: 45 hours and 51 minutes
- Brighton: 45 hours and 46 minutes
- Other suburbs include Canterbury, Malvern, Black Rock, Park Orchards, Blairgowrie, Ivanhoe East, and Toorak.
Middle Park stands out as the only Melbourne suburb where the typical full-time resident works over 46 hours each week, setting it apart even among elite neighborhoods.
Expert insight
“It’s those white-collar jobs where there’s no real opening or closing time,” said urban economist Terry Rawnsley. “These are roles where people often work as long as they possibly can. The ability to open that laptop and keep working is part of the story for these white-collar jobs.”
Analysts suggest that flexible working conditions and professional demands contribute to these extended workweeks, reflecting both ambition and a blurred line between office and home life in affluent suburbs.
Author’s summary
Melbourne’s bayside professionals, especially in Middle Park, log the city’s longest workweeks—driven by white-collar roles that extend far beyond traditional hours.