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 Carlton (Vic.), accounting for 59.8% (9,084 people). This share was lower than Melbourne (C) (60.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in less Than 5 Hours, which decreased by 1,382 people and 4.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Carlton (Vic.) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Carlton (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carlton (Vic.), with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
9,084
% of total
59.8%
Change from 2016
+6.0pp
9,084
59.8%
+6.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
3,580
% of total
23.6%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
3,580
23.6%
-4.8pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
4,075
% of total
26.8%
Change from 2016
+8.0pp
4,075
26.8%
+8.0pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
955
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
955
6.3%
+2.1pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
474
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
474
3.1%
+0.7pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
5,094
% of total
33.5%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
5,094
33.5%
-2.5pp
Not Stated
2021 count
1,012
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
1,012
6.7%
-3.4pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
-314
+6.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-1,382
-4.8pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+790
+8.0pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+230
+2.1pp
30 Hours Or More
+48
+0.7pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
-1,196
-2.5pp
Not Stated
-758
-3.4pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Carlton (Vic.). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 9,084 | 59.8% | 60.3% | 9,398 | 53.8% | 57.7% | -314 | +6.0pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 3,580 | 23.6% | 22.7% | 4,962 | 28.4% | 28.9% | -1,382 | -4.8pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 4,075 | 26.8% | 27.2% | 3,285 | 18.8% | 21.2% | +790 | +8.0pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 955 | 6.3% | 7.0% | 725 | 4.2% | 4.9% | +230 | +2.1pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 474 | 3.1% | 3.4% | 426 | 2.4% | 2.8% | +48 | +0.7pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 5,094 | 33.5% | 31.5% | 6,290 | 36.0% | 29.9% | -1,196 | -2.5pp |
| Not Stated | 1,012 | 6.7% | 8.2% | 1,770 | 10.1% | 12.4% | -758 | -3.4pp |
| Total | 15,192 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 17,460 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -2,268 | 0.0pp |