<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228616-12-000096.txt : 20121228
<SEC-HEADER>0001228616-12-000096.hdr.sgml : 20121228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121228105949
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228616-12-000096
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121227
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121228

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bardelis Charles L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001564300

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04173
		FILM NUMBER:		121289267

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHN HANCOCK INVESTORS TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000759828
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-663-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANCOCK JOHN INVESTORS TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-12-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000759828</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JOHN HANCOCK INVESTORS TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001564300</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bardelis Charles L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JOHN HANCOCK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>601 CONGRESS STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Trustee of the Fund</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common shares of beneficial interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>275</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kinga Kapuscinski, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-12-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>bardelispoadec2012.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POA
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

                           LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                      FOR
                  JOHN HANCOCK CLOSED-END FUNDS COMMON SHARES
                             SECTION 16(a) FILINGS

As an officer, trustee and/or shareholder of John Hancock Closed-End Funds (the
"Companies") listed in Appendix A, the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints with full power of substitution each of John J. Danello, Kinga
Kapuscinski, Thomas M. Kinzler, Nicholas J. Kolokithas, Patricia A. Morisette,
Christopher Sechler, Betsy Anne Seel, Steven Sunnerberg and Andrew Wilkins,
acting singly, the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

     (1) Prepare and execute for the undersigned Forms 3, 4, and 5 and
amendments thereto regarding Common Shares of the Companies in accordance with
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

     (2) File any such Form 3, 4, or 5 or amendments thereto with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and any stock exchange or
similar authority; and

     (3) Take any other action which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
may be necessary or desirable in connection with the foregoing.

The undersigned acknowledges that neither the foregoing attorneys-in-fact nor
the Companies are assuming the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5, unless earlier
revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact. This Power of Attorney may be filed with the SEC as may be
necessary or appropriate.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of this 9th day of December, 2012.

                                                 /s/ Charles L. Bardelis
                                                 ------------------------
                                                 Charles L. Bardelis

<PAGE>

                                                                      APPENDIX A

                     LIST OF JOHN HANCOCK CLOSED-END FUNDS

John Hancock Bank and Thrift Opportunity Fund
John Hancock Emerging Markets Income Fund
John Hancock Flexible Income Opportunities Fund
John Hancock Income Securities Trust
John Hancock Investors Trust
John Hancock Hedged Equity & Income Fund
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund II
John Hancock Preferred Income Fund III
John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund
John Hancock Strategic Diversified Income Fund
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund
John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Global Shareholder Yield Fund

                                      - 2 -
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
