Satisfaction with work-life balance

Relevance

It is important that people find a balance between paid work and other aspects of their lives. When this balance is not found, people may suffer from stress or anxiety. Long working hours or non-standard working hours (eg night shifts) may compromise work-life balance.

Current level

In 2008, 78 per cent of employed New Zealanders were satisfied or very satisfied with their work-life balance. This was similar to the level in 2006 (75 per cent).

People in part-time employment were more likely to be satisfied with their work-life balance than people in full-time employment. In 2008, 88 per cent of people in part-time employment were satisfied or very satisfied with their work-life balance, compared to 74 per cent of those in full-time employment. The equivalent figures for 2006 were 83 per cent and 71 per cent, respectively.

Figure PW5.1 Proportion of employed people who were satisfied with their work-life balance, by full-time and part-time status, 2006 and 2008

Source: Quality of Life Survey 2006;Quality of Life Survey 2008

Age differences

Employed people aged 65 years and over were the most satisfied (92 per cent) with their work-life balance in 2008. In all age groups, people employed part-time had higher levels of satisfaction than those employed full-time. Those least likely to be satisfied with their work-life balance were full-time employed people aged 35–44 years (71 per cent) and 45–54 years (72 per cent).

Table PW5.1 Proportion (%) of employed people who were satisfied or very satisfied with their work-life balance, by full-time and part-time status and age, 2008

Source: Quality of Life Survey 2008

Sex differences

In 2008, employed females (79 per cent) had a similar rate of satisfaction with their work-life balance to that of employed males (77 per cent). There were also similar rates of satisfaction with work-life balance among male and female full-time workers (75 per cent and 72 per cent respectively). Satisfaction with work-life balance was highest for both male and female part-time workers (86 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively).

Ethnic differences

There was little difference by ethnicity in the proportion of employed people who were satisfied with their work-life balance in 2008: Asians, 80 per cent; Māori, 79 per cent; Europeans, 78 per cent; and Pacific peoples, 74 per cent.  

Figure PW5.2 Proportion of employed people who were satisfied with their work-life balance, by ethnic group, 2008

Source: Quality of Life Survey 2008
Note: Robust statistics are not available for other ethnicities because of small numbers

Household type differences

Employed people who live in households with children under 18 years have lower levels of satisfaction with their work-life balance (76 per cent) than those not living with children of that age (81 per cent). A lower proportion of full-time employed females who live in households with children under 18 years were satisfied with their work-life balance (67 per cent).

Socio-economic differences

Full-time employees with personal incomes of $30,000 or less were more likely to be satisfied overall with their work-life balance (79 per cent) than those on higher incomes of over $70,000 (72 per cent). Part-time employees across the personal income scale had high levels of satisfaction with their work-life balance.

Regional differences

Satisfaction with work-life balance among employed people varies across territorial authorities. In 2008, people in Tauranga (81 per cent) and Manukau (80 per cent) recorded the highest levels of satisfaction, while people in Wellington recorded the lowest (73 per cent).

» View technical details about the satisfaction with work-life balance indicator