Employment
Unpaid childcare
About this topic
Unpaid childcare records whether people aged 15 years and over spent time looking after a child without pay, including their own children and other people's children. It reflects the role of parents, grandparents, extended family, and community networks in caring for children.
This topic helps show how childcare is supported outside the paid care sector and can highlight the role of family-based care. It is best interpreted with household type, employment, and income, because unpaid childcare patterns are shaped by family structure, work arrangements, and access to formal childcare.
Interpretation notes
- This records unpaid childcare in the previous two weeks for people aged 15 years and over, including care for a person's own children and other children.
- It identifies whether childcare was provided, not the number of hours or whether care was regular, occasional, or shared with formal services.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, not providing unpaid child care was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Light (RegC), accounting for 65.2% (8,221 people). This share was lower than Regional SA (67.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not providing unpaid child care, which increased by 1,121 people and 3.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid childcare
Light (RegC) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid childcare for Light (RegC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Unpaid childcare snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Light (RegC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
2021 count
3,794
% of total
30.1%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
3,794
30.1%
-2.0pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
2021 count
2,697
% of total
21.4%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
2,697
21.4%
-1.5pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
2021 count
989
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
989
7.8%
-0.3pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
2021 count
113
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
113
0.9%
-0.2pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
2021 count
8,221
% of total
65.2%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
8,221
65.2%
+3.7pp
Not Stated
2021 count
600
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
600
4.8%
-1.6pp
Chart view
Unpaid childcare change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Provided Unpaid Child Care (All)
+86
-2.0pp
Cared For Own Child Ren
+57
-1.5pp
Cared For Other Child Ren
+53
-0.3pp
Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren
-17
-0.2pp
No Unpaid Child Care Provided
+1,121
+3.7pp
Not Stated
-137
-1.6pp
Data table
Unpaid childcare for Light (RegC). Unpaid childcare. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Provided Unpaid Child Care (All) | 3,794 | 30.1% | 24.3% | 3,708 | 32.1% | 26.2% | +86 | -2.0pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren | 2,697 | 21.4% | 16.2% | 2,640 | 22.9% | 17.4% | +57 | -1.5pp |
| Cared For Other Child Ren | 989 | 7.8% | 7.2% | 936 | 8.1% | 7.9% | +53 | -0.3pp |
| Cared For Own Child Ren And Other Child Ren | 113 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 130 | 1.1% | 0.9% | -17 | -0.2pp |
| No Unpaid Child Care Provided | 8,221 | 65.2% | 67.9% | 7,100 | 61.5% | 64.3% | +1,121 | +3.7pp |
| Not Stated | 600 | 4.8% | 7.8% | 737 | 6.4% | 9.5% | -137 | -1.6pp |
| Total | 12,616 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,542 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,074 | 0.0pp |