Over 10 per cent of employees work overtime and men are more likely to work extra hours than women, a new survey suggests.
The Quarterly National Household Survey for quarter 2 of 2004 was published today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
It reveals that 10.1 per cent of employees (152,000) worked overtime in that period, compared to 8.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2001.
Some 13.4 per cent of male employees worked overtime, compared to 6.4 per cent of women.
Nearly 43 per cent of those who worked overtime did not receive payment for that work. Over 54 per cent were paid for all their overtime hours, while 2.5 per cent were paid for some of their overtime.
Those living in the mid-east and in Dublin were also more likely to work overtime, as were employees aged between 25 and 44.
Those most likely to work longer hours were those in public administration and defence (13.5 per cent), transport, storage and communication (13.1 per cent), financial and other business services (13.1 per cent) and other production industries (12.6 per cent).
On average, those who worked overtime in the second quarter of 2004 worked for 40.6 hour per week, compared to 35 hours for those who did not work overtime.
Two thirds of those who were self-employed indicated they could plan "when and how" they organised their work. But the self-employed also worked longer hours - on average 48.2 hours per week.
The CSO survey also reveals that over 10 per cent of the workforce (186,000) work shifts. A further 5 per cent work shifts sometimes. Those in the midlands, the mid-east and Dublin were most likely to "usually" work shifts. Some 24 per cent of those employed in the health sector work shifts, the survey says. Over three-quarters of those working shifts said it suited their personal circumstances.