Employment
Unpaid domestic work
About this topic
Unpaid domestic work measures how much time people aged 15 years and over spent doing housework for their household in the week before the Census. It helps show the distribution of unpaid labour that supports home and family life.
This topic is useful for understanding household roles, time pressures, and gender or life-stage differences in unpaid work. It is best read with household type, employment, and income, because the amount of unpaid domestic work can be shaped by family structure and the ability to outsource tasks.
Interpretation notes
- The hours refer to unpaid domestic work done for the person's household in the week before the Census.
- This topic does not measure childcare, disability care, or other unpaid help unless it falls within domestic work for the household.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, doing unpaid domestic work was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Central Desert (R), accounting for 71.5% (1,878 people). This share was higher than Regional NT (65.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in between 15 And 29 Hours, which decreased by 179 people and 7 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Central Desert (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Central Desert (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Desert (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
1,878
% of total
71.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,878
71.5%
0.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
858
% of total
32.7%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
858
32.7%
+5.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
703
% of total
26.8%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
703
26.8%
+3.9pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
207
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-7.0pp
207
7.9%
-7.0pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
110
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
110
4.2%
-2.3pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
435
% of total
16.6%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
435
16.6%
-0.7pp
Not Stated
2021 count
314
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
314
12.0%
+1.0pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+24
0.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+153
+5.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+109
+3.9pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
-179
-7.0pp
30 Hours Or More
-59
-2.3pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
-14
-0.7pp
Not Stated
+28
+1.0pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Central Desert (R). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 1,878 | 71.5% | 65.7% | 1,854 | 71.5% | 63.7% | +24 | 0.0pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 858 | 32.7% | 22.8% | 705 | 27.2% | 23.5% | +153 | +5.5pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 703 | 26.8% | 25.3% | 594 | 22.9% | 24.6% | +109 | +3.9pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 207 | 7.9% | 10.8% | 386 | 14.9% | 9.8% | -179 | -7.0pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 110 | 4.2% | 6.8% | 169 | 6.5% | 5.7% | -59 | -2.3pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 435 | 16.6% | 21.8% | 449 | 17.3% | 19.0% | -14 | -0.7pp |
| Not Stated | 314 | 12.0% | 12.4% | 286 | 11.0% | 17.3% | +28 | +1.0pp |
| Total | 2,627 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,593 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +34 | 0.0pp |