The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that about one-third of those in the construction industry are independent contractors.
The research found that in November 2010, 1.1 million people listed independent contractors as their main job.
This represented 9.8 per cent of all Australian employees, an increase from 1.0 million (9.6 per cent of employed persons) in November 2009. And almost three-quarters of independent contractors were men, about 824,000.
In November 2010, one in ten independent contractors worked seven days a week, compared with four per cent of employees.
Independent contractors were more likely than employees to work both weekdays and weekends (39 per cent of independent contractors compared with 30 per cent of employees).
They also worked longer hours than employees: almost a quarter (24 per cent) worked 49 or more hours a week (compared with 12 per cent of employees).
the group are also more likely to be on call or stand-by than employees (36 per cent compared with 23 per cent). Independent contractors were twice as likely as employees to have their hours vary each week (46 per cent compared with 23 per cent).
