A new study by Reckon has spotlighted the challenging work-life balance faced by many in Australia’s construction and blue-collar sectors, revealing which careers come with the most pressure and which offer more flexibility and balance.
Reckon’s analysis, which examined 11 key factors across workload, life balance, flexibility, and household time, ranked careers on a scale of 0 to 100 for overall work-life balance.
The results placed the construction occupation as the fifth-worst career for work-life balance, earning a score of just 44.96 out of 100.
The report highlights that construction careers are often marked by long hours and limited flexibility.
Specifically, construction work scored below average in life balance (20.57) and flexibility and time management (15.52), indicating few opportunities for remote work, volunteering, or independent schedule management.
Despite these challenges, construction workers scored relatively high for workload (78.08) and household time (78.62), suggesting that while the work is demanding, there may be some consistency in routine that allows for dedicated time at home.
Other physically demanding and inflexible blue-collar roles, such as Mobile Plant Operators and Road and Rail Drivers also scored poorly, with overall scores of 42.60 and 40.27, respectively.
Jess Morris, Head of People & Culture at Reckon, provided insight into the findings, stating: “If there’s one thing we’ve learned in today’s world of work, it’s that balance is a business and lifestyle essential.
“It’s no longer just about clocking in and out; it’s about choosing careers that empower people to thrive both professionally and personally.
“Our new study shows us that career paths in ICT, leadership, HR and creative industries are leading the charge because they offer a winning mix of flexibility, purpose and autonomy.
“These aren’t just good jobs, they’re sustainable careers that give people the room to live well, stay productive and avoid burnout.”
This study underscores the ongoing need for industries to address work-life balance challenges, particularly in physical and high-demand sectors like construction, to support workforce wellbeing and sustainability.
