diff --git a/sdc/datatypes/hpat_pandas_series_functions.py b/sdc/datatypes/hpat_pandas_series_functions.py
index b96464173..795647084 100644
--- a/sdc/datatypes/hpat_pandas_series_functions.py
+++ b/sdc/datatypes/hpat_pandas_series_functions.py
@@ -1777,42 +1777,20 @@ def hpat_pandas_series_astype(self, dtype, copy=True, errors='raise'):
         errors in ('raise', 'ignore')):
         ty_checker.raise_exc(errors, 'str', 'errors')
 
-    # Return StringArray for astype(str) or astype('str')
-    def hpat_pandas_series_astype_to_str_impl(self, dtype, copy=True, errors='raise'):
-        num_chars = 0
-        arr_len = len(self._data)
-
-        # Get total chars for new array
-        for i in prange(arr_len):
-            item = self._data[i]
-            num_chars += len(str(item))  # TODO: check NA
-
-        data = pre_alloc_string_array(arr_len, num_chars)
-        for i in prange(arr_len):
-            item = self._data[i]
-            data[i] = str(item)  # TODO: check NA
-
-        return pandas.Series(data=data, index=self._index, name=self._name)
-
     # Return npytypes.Array from npytypes.Array for astype(types.functions.NumberClass), example - astype(np.int64)
-    def hpat_pandas_series_astype_numba_impl(self, dtype, copy=True, errors='raise'):
-        return pandas.Series(data=self._data.astype(dtype), index=self._index, name=self._name)
-
     # Return npytypes.Array from npytypes.Array for astype(types.StringLiteral), example - astype('int64')
-    def hpat_pandas_series_astype_literal_type_numba_impl(self, dtype, copy=True, errors='raise'):
-        return pandas.Series(data=self._data.astype(numpy.dtype(dtype)), index=self._index, name=self._name)
+    def hpat_pandas_series_astype_numba_impl(self, dtype, copy=True, errors='raise'):
+        return pandas.Series(data=numpy_like.astype(self._data, dtype), index=self._index, name=self._name)
 
     # Return self
     def hpat_pandas_series_astype_no_modify_impl(self, dtype, copy=True, errors='raise'):
         return pandas.Series(data=self._data, index=self._index, name=self._name)
 
-
-    if ((isinstance(dtype, types.Function) and dtype.typing_key == str)
-        or (isinstance(dtype, types.StringLiteral) and dtype.literal_value == 'str')):
-        return hpat_pandas_series_astype_to_str_impl
+    str_check = ((isinstance(dtype, types.Function) and dtype.typing_key == str) or
+                 (isinstance(dtype, types.StringLiteral) and dtype.literal_value == 'str'))
 
     # Needs Numba astype impl support converting unicode_type to NumberClass and other types
-    if isinstance(self.data, StringArrayType):
+    if (isinstance(self.data, StringArrayType) and not str_check):
         if isinstance(dtype, types.functions.NumberClass) and errors == 'raise':
             raise TypingError(f'Needs Numba astype impl support converting unicode_type to {dtype}')
         if isinstance(dtype, types.StringLiteral) and errors == 'raise':
@@ -1823,18 +1801,12 @@ def hpat_pandas_series_astype_no_modify_impl(self, dtype, copy=True, errors='rai
             else:
                 raise TypingError(f'Needs Numba astype impl support converting unicode_type to {dtype.literal_value}')
 
-    if isinstance(self.data, types.npytypes.Array) and isinstance(dtype, types.functions.NumberClass):
-        return hpat_pandas_series_astype_numba_impl
+    data_narr = isinstance(self.data, types.npytypes.Array)
+    dtype_num_liter = isinstance(dtype, (types.functions.NumberClass, types.StringLiteral))
 
-    if isinstance(self.data, types.npytypes.Array) and isinstance(dtype, types.StringLiteral):
-        try:
-            literal_value = numpy.dtype(dtype.literal_value)
-        except:
-            pass # Will raise the exception later
-        else:
-            return hpat_pandas_series_astype_literal_type_numba_impl
+    if data_narr and dtype_num_liter or str_check:
+        return hpat_pandas_series_astype_numba_impl
 
-    # Raise error if dtype is not supported
     if errors == 'raise':
         raise TypingError(f'{_func_name} The object must be a supported type. Given dtype: {dtype}')
     else:
diff --git a/sdc/functions/numpy_like.py b/sdc/functions/numpy_like.py
index 3ac537d4e..82b2a3d60 100644
--- a/sdc/functions/numpy_like.py
+++ b/sdc/functions/numpy_like.py
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def sdc_astype_overload(self, dtype):
     """
 
     ty_checker = TypeChecker("numpy-like 'astype'")
-    if not isinstance(self, types.Array):
+    if not isinstance(self, (types.Array, StringArrayType)):
         return None
 
     if not isinstance(dtype, (types.functions.NumberClass, types.Function, types.Literal)):
diff --git a/sdc/tests/tests_perf/test_perf_series.py b/sdc/tests/tests_perf/test_perf_series.py
index bbc2c90ee..6e98fc32b 100644
--- a/sdc/tests/tests_perf/test_perf_series.py
+++ b/sdc/tests/tests_perf/test_perf_series.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def _test_case(self, pyfunc, name, total_data_length, data_num=1, input_data=tes
     TC(name='append', size=[10 ** 7], params='other', data_num=2),
     TC(name='apply', size=[10 ** 7], params='lambda x: x'),
     TC(name='argsort', size=[10 ** 4]),
-    TC(name='astype', size=[10 ** 5], call_expr='data.astype(np.int8)', usecase_params='data',
+    TC(name='astype', size=[10 ** 8], call_expr='data.astype(np.int8)', usecase_params='data',
        input_data=[test_global_input_data_float64[0]]),
     TC(name='at', size=[10 ** 7], call_expr='data.at[3]', usecase_params='data'),
     TC(name='chain_add_and_sum', size=[20 * 10 ** 6, 25 * 10 ** 6, 30 * 10 ** 6], call_expr='(A + B).sum()',