SYDNEY -- Almost half of Australian workers regularly stay behind for unpaid overtime, a survey released Monday showed.

The survey by recruitment firm job futures found two-thirds of the 47 percent of full-time workers who do unpaid overtime are working five or more hours a week for free, DPA reported.

Job Futures Chief Executive Robert Tickner said fear of losing their jobs was driving some employees to extend their working day.

"It's certainly clear from our survey that a very significant percentage of employees find their job stressful, and a very significant percentage want to work shorter hours," he said.