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 Balmain, accounting for 79.8% (6,902 people). This share was higher than Inner West (A) (74.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in less Than 5 Hours, which decreased by 626 people and 7.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Balmain - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Balmain in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Balmain, with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
6,902
% of total
79.8%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
6,902
79.8%
+4.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
1,974
% of total
22.8%
Change from 2016
-7.2pp
1,974
22.8%
-7.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
3,150
% of total
36.4%
Change from 2016
+5.4pp
3,150
36.4%
+5.4pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
1,204
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
1,204
13.9%
+4.5pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
574
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
574
6.6%
+1.2pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
1,378
% of total
15.9%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,378
15.9%
+2.1pp
Not Stated
2021 count
381
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-6.0pp
381
4.4%
-6.0pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+342
+4.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-626
-7.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+468
+5.4pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+394
+4.5pp
30 Hours Or More
+106
+1.2pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+182
+2.1pp
Not Stated
-520
-6.0pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Balmain. Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 6,902 | 79.8% | 74.8% | 6,560 | 75.8% | 71.9% | +342 | +4.0pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 1,974 | 22.8% | 22.6% | 2,600 | 30.0% | 28.9% | -626 | -7.2pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 3,150 | 36.4% | 33.9% | 2,682 | 31.0% | 28.3% | +468 | +5.4pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 1,204 | 13.9% | 12.2% | 810 | 9.4% | 9.3% | +394 | +4.5pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 574 | 6.6% | 6.0% | 468 | 5.4% | 5.4% | +106 | +1.2pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 1,378 | 15.9% | 20.1% | 1,196 | 13.8% | 19.3% | +182 | +2.1pp |
| Not Stated | 381 | 4.4% | 5.1% | 901 | 10.4% | 8.7% | -520 | -6.0pp |
| Total | 8,653 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,656 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -3 | 0.0pp |