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 No usual address (ACT), accounting for 53.9% (302 people). This share was lower than Australian Capital Territory (75.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 42 people and 2.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
No usual address (ACT) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for No usual address (ACT) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Australian Capital Territory and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for No usual address (ACT), with comparison markers for Australian Capital Territory.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
302
% of total
53.9%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
302
53.9%
+2.5pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
123
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
123
22.0%
-4.3pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
123
% of total
22.0%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
123
22.0%
+3.4pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
39
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
39
7.0%
+2.5pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
17
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
17
3.0%
+1.0pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
138
% of total
24.6%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
138
24.6%
-2.7pp
Not Stated
2021 count
126
% of total
22.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
126
22.5%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+42
+2.5pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-10
-4.3pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+29
+3.4pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+16
+2.5pp
30 Hours Or More
+7
+1.0pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
0
-2.7pp
Not Stated
+8
-0.8pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for No usual address (ACT). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Australian Capital Territory.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 302 | 53.9% | 75.4% | 260 | 51.4% | 76.4% | +42 | +2.5pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 123 | 22.0% | 23.0% | 133 | 26.3% | 25.5% | -10 | -4.3pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 123 | 22.0% | 33.1% | 94 | 18.6% | 31.7% | +29 | +3.4pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 39 | 7.0% | 12.7% | 23 | 4.5% | 12.2% | +16 | +2.5pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 17 | 3.0% | 6.6% | 10 | 2.0% | 7.0% | +7 | +1.0pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 138 | 24.6% | 19.9% | 138 | 27.3% | 16.7% | 0 | -2.7pp |
| Not Stated | 126 | 22.5% | 4.7% | 118 | 23.3% | 6.9% | +8 | -0.8pp |
| Total | 560 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 506 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +54 | 0.0pp |