Australia’s hardest working municipalities: Regions smash urban centres

City dwellers might think a 38-hour week is a tough slog, but a landmark study has revealed the hardest workers are living far outside urban centres.

Exclusive: City-dwellers might have a thing or two to learn about hard work from rural and regional folk.

Bond University’s Happiness Index has revealed many of Australia’s hardest-working municipalities are far away from urban centres.

The study analysed Census and other publicly available data to measure 540 Australian municipalities across nine key categories affecting quality of life; housing affordability, education, community, jobs, wealth, accessibility, work-life balance, health and safety. Each life area was scored out of 10.

Take a look if people are your area are working longer than the standard 38-hour week:

THE HAPPINESS PROJECT:

AUSTRALIA’S ULTIMATE PLACE TO LIVE

HOUSE PRICE SHOCK AS REGIONAL AFFORDABILITY TUMBLES

AUSTRALIA’S HAPPY HOTSPOTS REVEALED

WHERE TO FIND THE KINDEST AUSSIES

WORST AREAS FOR AUSSIE SINGLES

AUSTRALIA’S HARDEST WORKING MUNICIPALITIES

(Excluding WA and based on the percentage of people working more than 41 hours a week)

1. Maralinga Tjarutja (SA)

2. McKinlay (QLD)

3. Boulia (QLD)

4. Weipa (QLD)

5. Roxby Downs (SA)

6. Bulloo (QLD)

7. Barcoo (QLD)

8. Isaac (QLD)

9. Cloncurry (QLD)

10. Etheridge (QLD)

STATE BY STATE, HARDEST WORKING MUNICIPALITIES

NEW SOUTH WALES

1. Cobar

2. Central Darling

3. Bogan

4. Carrathool

5. Woollahra

NORTHERN TERRITORY

1. Victoria Daly

2. Litchfield

3. Palmerston

4. Katherine

5. Coomalie

Kimba was among the hardest working areas in South Australia. Picture: Supplied

QUEENSLAND

1. McKinlay

2. Boulia

3. Weipa

4. Bulloo

5. Barcoo

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

1. Maralinga Tjarutja

2. Roxby Downs

3. Karoonda East Murray

4. Kimba

5. Southern Mallee

TASMANIA

1. West Coast

2. King Island

3. Dorset

4. Circular Head

5. Central Highlands

VICTORIA

1. Corangamite

2. West Wimmera

3. Loddon

4. Port Phillip

5. Yarra

Data was taken from the most recent 2016 Census and other public sources to score each LGA out of 10 in nine categories: housing affordability, education, community, jobs, wealth, accessibility, work-life balance, safety and health. Each category draws on a number of factors for its score, and each LGA is also given an overall quality of life score, resulting in a searchable online map.