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 Melbourne (C), accounting for 60.3% (84,173 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (66.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in between 5 And 14 Hours, which increased by 11,046 people and 6 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Melbourne (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Melbourne (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melbourne (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
84,173
% of total
60.3%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
84,173
60.3%
+2.6pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
31,639
% of total
22.7%
Change from 2016
-6.2pp
31,639
22.7%
-6.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
37,972
% of total
27.2%
Change from 2016
+6.0pp
37,972
27.2%
+6.0pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
9,767
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
9,767
7.0%
+2.1pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
4,795
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
4,795
3.4%
+0.6pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
43,957
% of total
31.5%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
43,957
31.5%
+1.6pp
Not Stated
2021 count
11,382
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
11,382
8.2%
-4.2pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+10,739
+2.6pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-5,117
-6.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+11,046
+6.0pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+3,545
+2.1pp
30 Hours Or More
+1,265
+0.6pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+5,954
+1.6pp
Not Stated
-4,420
-4.2pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Melbourne (C). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 84,173 | 60.3% | 66.6% | 73,434 | 57.7% | 68.2% | +10,739 | +2.6pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 31,639 | 22.7% | 20.4% | 36,756 | 28.9% | 24.5% | -5,117 | -6.2pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 37,972 | 27.2% | 27.1% | 26,926 | 21.2% | 25.3% | +11,046 | +6.0pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 9,767 | 7.0% | 11.3% | 6,222 | 4.9% | 10.5% | +3,545 | +2.1pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 4,795 | 3.4% | 7.8% | 3,530 | 2.8% | 8.0% | +1,265 | +0.6pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 43,957 | 31.5% | 27.9% | 38,003 | 29.9% | 24.1% | +5,954 | +1.6pp |
| Not Stated | 11,382 | 8.2% | 5.5% | 15,802 | 12.4% | 7.7% | -4,420 | -4.2pp |
| Total | 139,515 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 127,232 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,283 | 0.0pp |