Download the September 2023 results (pdf, 2MB)
Highlights
Housing and economy/employment are the two highest-priority national issues
- In March 2023, 44% and 42% of Australians nominated economy/employment and housing as the top two priorities. In September 2023, these two areas still hold the top two spots, but housing has become a more dominant issue. About 51% of Australians nominated housing as the most pressing issue, increased from 42% in March. This shows that there is no ease in the housing situation. Instead, it has become a more severe problem influencing more Australians. There is less concern about the economy and employment (dropped from 44% in March to 41%), reflecting the circumstances in recent months, such as the RBA holding a further interest rate rise and a stable unemployment rate. This finding is unsurprising, given the heavy media coverage and debates on related policies.
Public transport and road improvements are the top priorities for transport
- In September 2023, 30% of Australians said that public transport improvement is the highest priority issue for transport in Australia, up from 25% in March 2023. About 24% of Australians said road improvement is the top priority, the same as in March 2023. Economic and financial problems have remained at 21%, equivalent to the March 2023 level.
Opinions on transport in local areas have improved since March 2023
- In September 2023, 28% of Australians said that transport in their local areas was worse than one year ago, slightly lower than 29% in March 2023. In contrast, 11% of Australians said that transport in local areas is better than one year ago, up from 8% in March 2023. People with neutral or no opinions have decreased slightly from 63% in March 2023 to 62% in September 2023.
A higher level of confidence about local transport in the short-term
- In September 2023, 15% of Australians said that transport in their local area would be better in one year, slightly up from 14% in March 2023.
Australians have more confidence in transport in Australia in the short-term.
- In September 2023, 17% of Australians thought that transport in Australia would improve in one year, up from 14% in March 2023. In contrast, 27% of Australians thought that transport in Australia would worsen in one year, down from 29% in March 2023.
Australians have much more confidence about transport in Australia in the longer-term
- In September 2023, 36% of Australians thought that transport in Australia would improve in five years, up from 29% in March 2023. In contrast, 27% of Australians thought that transport in Australia would worsen in five years, down from 29% in March 2023. People with neutral or no opinions have decreased from 42% in March 2023 to 37% in September 2023.
ITLS Index of Transport Confidence
- Compared to March 2023, in September 2023, Australians are more confident about transport in their local area (Confidence index: up from 76 to 85). The same is true for transport across Australia in one year (Confidence index: up from 67 to 81) and in five years (Confidence index: up from 79 to 90). Overall, all indexes have increased significantly compared to March 2023. However, the confidence levels have not recovered to those recorded in September 2022 at 94, 91 and 96, respectively, for the previously mentioned measures.
About 78% of Australians ordered online in the last four weeks.
- About 78% of Australians made online order(s) in the previous four weeks, up from 70% in March 2023. For those who ordered online, the average spending of $395 in the last four weeks is also higher than $370 in March 2023. They spent 50% on groceries, clothing & apparel (more than 49% in March 2023). Overall, 63% of online spending is delivered to home or other locations, slightly less than 65% in March 2023. About 58% of online grocery shopping is delivered, less than 59% in March 2023. Among the 78% of Australians who made online order(s) in the last four weeks, about 36% of total grocery spending was made online, a large increase from 30% in March 2023, with the remaining 64% of expenditures made in stores.
Working people spend 21% of their work time working from home (WFH)
- About 69% of Australians have undertaken paid work in the last two weeks, up from 64% in March 2023. In contrast, the average number of working days in the last two weeks have dropped from 8.08 days in March 2023 to 7.95 days in September 2023. There are more Australians who were not working in March 2023 such as students, those who were looking for work, people with home duties and retired people doing few hours of work. This change has increased the size of the working population but reduced average working hours.
- Of all the working hours, 21% are WFH hours, which has decreased from 27% in March 2023. This change was primarily related to changes in working patterns in two occupations: professionals and sales. Professionals have lowered the WFH proportion from 35% in March 2023 to 21% in September 2023. During the same period, sales workers have reduced the WFH proportion from 28% to 15%. For the other occupations, such as managers, technicians, community workers and clerical/admin workers, the WFH proportions have either remained stable or changed slightly. Since professionals and sales workers account for over 37% of the total working population, their WFH proportions significantly impact the overall average WFH level.
- Wednesday, Monday and Tuesday have the highest levels of WFH, with 63%, 61%, and 60% of those who WFH during weekdays working from home on these three days. In contrast, only 52% and 55% of employees WFH work from home on Friday or Thursday during weekdays. Over 90% of those who WFH during weekends work from home on Saturdays.
- About 42% of employers have stipulated that workers must return to the office a particular number of days during a week.
- About 94.7% of people who WFH have made some trips for purposes such as leisure, shopping, or other personal businesses on the same days that they WFH. Driving, walking and taking trains are the three top transport modes.