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 West Mackay, accounting for 61.1% (3,325 people). This share was lower than Mackay (R) (65.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 404 people and 6 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
West Mackay - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for West Mackay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
3,325
% of total
61.1%
Change from 2016
-5.4pp
3,325
61.1%
-5.4pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
972
% of total
17.9%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
972
17.9%
-1.6pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
1,342
% of total
24.7%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,342
24.7%
-1.5pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
585
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
585
10.8%
-0.8pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
426
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
426
7.8%
-1.3pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
1,534
% of total
28.2%
Change from 2016
+6.0pp
1,534
28.2%
+6.0pp
Not Stated
2021 count
580
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
580
10.7%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
-58
-5.4pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-20
-1.6pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+9
-1.5pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
-8
-0.8pp
30 Hours Or More
-39
-1.3pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+404
+6.0pp
Not Stated
-4
-0.8pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for West Mackay. Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 3,325 | 61.1% | 65.7% | 3,383 | 66.5% | 69.9% | -58 | -5.4pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 972 | 17.9% | 18.8% | 992 | 19.5% | 20.2% | -20 | -1.6pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 1,342 | 24.7% | 26.3% | 1,333 | 26.2% | 26.5% | +9 | -1.5pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 585 | 10.8% | 11.3% | 593 | 11.6% | 12.3% | -8 | -0.8pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 426 | 7.8% | 9.3% | 465 | 9.1% | 11.0% | -39 | -1.3pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 1,534 | 28.2% | 23.8% | 1,130 | 22.2% | 19.5% | +404 | +6.0pp |
| Not Stated | 580 | 10.7% | 10.5% | 584 | 11.5% | 10.6% | -4 | -0.8pp |
| Total | 5,441 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,091 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +350 | 0.0pp |