Australians lose hours to admin as AI resistance slows progress

New research from Dropbox has found that while many Australians believe they are productive at work, a significant proportion are spending excessive time on administrative tasks.

The Dropbox Productivity Survey 2025 surveyed workers nationwide and found that 66% feel their current work model is helping them be productive. However, the research also revealed that nearly a quarter of respondents, or 23%, spend over 10 hours each week on tasks such as emails, scheduling, and document processing. This equates to more than an hour every working day on what the report labels as low-value work.

The survey sought to understand how Australians are allocating their time during the work week and highlighted a perceived contradiction between hard work and effective work. While most respondents expressed confidence in their productivity, the time devoted to administrative activities indicates room for improvement in how work is structured and prioritised.

AI adoption and resistance

One of the prominent findings from the survey is the hesitancy among Australian workers to use artificial intelligence tools in the workplace. Nationally, 26% of respondents reported that they would never use AI tools at work, a figure that rises to 33% in Queensland. The research highlights that this resistance persists even though 31% of Queenslanders surveyed said they would use an extra hour gained through productivity improvements just to catch up on existing work.

This reluctance towards AI comes despite its perceived potential to help reclaim time spent on repetitive administrative tasks.

Remote and hybrid work

The survey also explored working arrangements across the country, finding that only 12% of workers are exclusively working from home. However, nearly a quarter are engaged in hybrid work, splitting their time between the office and home environments. The report indicates that the hybrid model is being utilised by a significant portion of the workforce, aiming to combine the advantages of both remote and in-person collaboration.

Time for creativity and skill development

Concerns were also raised about the ability of workers to engage in creative tasks. According to the survey, just 49% of respondents felt they have enough time for creative activities and deep work - a type of work that requires uninterrupted concentration and is associated with higher productivity and fulfilment.

The research further revealed that over half, or 54% of Australian workers, derive a sense of success at work from learning a new skill. This was rated higher than other factors such as recognition from others, collaboration, or helping colleagues.

"Our research shows that the majority of Australian workers say that deep work, creativity, or learning a new skill makes them feel most successful at work. But almost a quarter are still spending 10+ hours a week on admin - that's a big chunk of the work week lost to emails, scheduling and finding information. If AI could take on some of that 'busy work', the average Australian worker could reclaim over 40 hours a month for high-impact work."

The survey's findings indicate that there remains a gap between the current distribution of work tasks and the activities that most contribute to employee fulfilment and organisational outcomes.

National discussions around productivity this week have provided a backdrop for the survey's publication, with these local statistics offering context to ongoing debates about workplace reform, technology adoption, and the future of work.