‘I have more time to travel and do the things I enjoy’: See where SA workers are taking fewer hours

Almost half of the population of one area in SA works part time. See where people in SA are working less and taking more time for themselves.

Adelaide PR business owner Sophie Chant took a leap of faith and resigned from her job to work part time two years ago.

Now Ms Chant, 32, works three or four days a week and earns more than she ever did in more than a decade working full time.

She is part of a growing number of South Australians who are working less, with almost half the population of some local government areas in the state on part time hours.

A study of census data by accounting software firm Reckon revealed the trend, showing 35 per cent of South Australians work part time, up about 17 per cent since 2006.

Part time work is defined in the study as less than 35 hours a week.

PR business owner Sophie Chant went out on her own working part time in 2022 for better work/life balance. Picture: Supplied

“My industry is a really high pressure environment,” Ms Chant, from St Morris, said.

“After so many years of being in the rat race, I just ended up so burnt out and the work-life balance just went out the window when Covid happened.”

After “working really late” at home, and with the lines between work and private life blurred, she decided “to take a step back”.

“It’s really helped with my mental health … having more time for myself and not living to work anymore,” Ms Chant said.

“I definitely encourage a lot of people to do that if they can.

“I have more time to travel and do the things I enjoy and I don’t have to apply for annual leave.”

Part time PR business owner Sophie Chant working while sipping a cocktail. Picture: Supplied

The local government area with the highest portion of part time workers in SA was Victor Harbor, with more than 46 per cent of its residents working less than 35 hours per week.

The study noted that the median age in the area is 60.

Victor Harbor Council chief executive Victoria McKirdy said prominent industries in the region such as healthcare, retail and hospitality “have a high degree of part-time and casual employees”.

“Victor Harbor is one of South Australia’s premier tourism destinations and our workforce tends to reflect this,” Ms McKirdy said.

However, Victor Harbor Council is “committed to increasing our workforce participation”, she said.

Yankalilla ranked second with about 43 per cent of its residents working part time and Kangaroo Island was at about 41 per cent.

In Adelaide, Mitcham had the highest proportion of part time workers with about 38 per cent, with Burnside just behind in second.

It comes after Santos permanently implemented a nine-day fortnightly roster for its Australian-based staff earlier this year – in a bid to increase work-life balance and employee wellbeing.

Labelled ‘Flex Friday’, all Australian office-based non-rostered employees working at least 0.8 FTE can take designated Fridays off work, usually the first and third of the month.

Under the flexible arrangement, workers are required to accumulate their full fortnight’s worth of hours within nine days with no reduction in productivity.