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 Greater Geelong (C), accounting for 70.1% (156,462 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (69.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 22,125 people, while its share fell by 0.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Greater Geelong (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Greater Geelong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Geelong (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
156,462
% of total
70.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
156,462
70.1%
-0.2pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
44,387
% of total
19.9%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
44,387
19.9%
-2.3pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
63,493
% of total
28.4%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
63,493
28.4%
+2.2pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
28,883
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
28,883
12.9%
+0.6pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
19,699
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
19,699
8.8%
-0.7pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
53,382
% of total
23.9%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
53,382
23.9%
+2.8pp
Not Stated
2021 count
13,441
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
13,441
6.0%
-2.7pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+22,125
-0.2pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+1,864
-2.3pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+13,365
+2.2pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+5,317
+0.6pp
30 Hours Or More
+1,579
-0.7pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+13,104
+2.8pp
Not Stated
-3,115
-2.7pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Greater Geelong (C). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 156,462 | 70.1% | 69.2% | 134,337 | 70.3% | 69.2% | +22,125 | -0.2pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 44,387 | 19.9% | 18.5% | 42,523 | 22.2% | 19.9% | +1,864 | -2.3pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 63,493 | 28.4% | 27.3% | 50,128 | 26.2% | 25.8% | +13,365 | +2.2pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 28,883 | 12.9% | 13.4% | 23,566 | 12.3% | 12.9% | +5,317 | +0.6pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 19,699 | 8.8% | 10.0% | 18,120 | 9.5% | 10.7% | +1,579 | -0.7pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 53,382 | 23.9% | 23.4% | 40,278 | 21.1% | 20.3% | +13,104 | +2.8pp |
| Not Stated | 13,441 | 6.0% | 7.5% | 16,556 | 8.7% | 10.5% | -3,115 | -2.7pp |
| Total | 223,284 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 191,166 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +32,118 | 0.0pp |