31 Oct 2025
Australia is known for its great work-life balance, but have you ever wondered how many actual working days people have in a year?
Whether you’re planning your annual leave, calculating work hours, or budgeting your salary, knowing the number of working days in Australia can help you manage time and finances better.
In 2025, Australians will have roughly 251 to 260 working days, depending on which state or territory they live in.
The total number of working days in Australia in 2025 averages around 250, but this number varies by state due to differences in public holidays and weekends.
Let’s start with the basics. Every year has 365 days (or 366 in a leap year). But not all of those are working days because we have weekends and public holidays. According to the Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman (2025 data), most full-time employees in Australia work 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Here’s how we calculate:
Example calculation:
365 total days – 104 weekend days – 11 public holidays = 250 working days
Yes — the number of working days in Australia isn’t the same everywhere. Each state and territory observes different public holidays, which slightly changes the total.
Here’s a quick look:
State/TerritoryApprox. Public Holidays (2025)Estimated Working Days
| State/Territory | Approx. Public Holidays (2025) | Estimated Working Days |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) | 11 | ~250 |
| Victoria (VIC) | 13 | ~248 |
| Queensland (QLD) | 11 | ~250 |
| South Australia (SA) | 12 | ~249 |
| Western Australia (WA) | 10 | ~251 |
| Tasmania (TAS) | 12 | ~249 |
| Northern Territory (NT) | 10 | ~251 |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | 12 | ~249 |
As we can see, places like Victoria and ACT have more public holidays, meaning slightly fewer working days, while Western Australia has fewer holidays and more workdays.
Australia has several national public holidays, and some state-specific holidays. These directly reduce the total working days.
Here are the major ones observed across most regions:
State-specific holidays include Labour Day, Queen’s Birthday, and local events such as Adelaide Cup Day in South Australia and Canberra Day in the Australian Capital Territory.
Each of these adds to the total number of weekends and public holidays, reducing working days for the year.
Fewer working days don’t necessarily mean less productivity — it’s all about work-life balance. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported in 2024 that over 35% of workers now use flexible schedules, highlighting the shift toward a healthier work-life balance. Australia ranks among the top countries for employee satisfaction and flexibility.
Many employers encourage:
This approach supports mental health, family time, and better job satisfaction.
Knowing the total number of working days in a year helps individuals and businesses plan effectively.
For individuals:
For businesses and HR teams:
In short, Australia’s work calendar for 2025 includes:
The total number of working days in Australia in 2025 averages around 250, varying slightly by state due to local holidays.
This balance between workdays and rest days makes Australia one of the best countries for maintaining a strong work-life balance while staying productive.
There are around 250 working days in 2025, depending on the state and number of public holidays.
Between 10 and 14, varying by state and territory.
No, weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are not counted as working days. There are 104 weekend days in a standard year.
Victoria and ACT often have the fewest, as they observe more public holidays.
Employees working on a public holiday are usually entitled to penalty rates, as defined by their award or agreement.
