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 Melville (C), accounting for 74.6% (63,885 people). This share was higher than Greater Perth (68.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 3,240 people.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Melville (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Melville (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melville (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
63,885
% of total
74.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
63,885
74.6%
0.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
19,748
% of total
23.1%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
19,748
23.1%
-1.3pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
25,312
% of total
29.6%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
25,312
29.6%
+1.8pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
11,255
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
11,255
13.1%
+0.2pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
7,570
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
7,570
8.8%
-0.7pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
18,002
% of total
21.0%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
18,002
21.0%
+2.1pp
Not Stated
2021 count
3,734
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
3,734
4.4%
-2.1pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+3,240
0.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-102
-1.3pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+2,715
+1.8pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+762
+0.2pp
30 Hours Or More
-135
-0.7pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+2,616
+2.1pp
Not Stated
-1,516
-2.1pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Melville (C). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 63,885 | 74.6% | 68.5% | 60,645 | 74.6% | 70.2% | +3,240 | 0.0pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 19,748 | 23.1% | 21.4% | 19,850 | 24.4% | 23.3% | -102 | -1.3pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 25,312 | 29.6% | 27.4% | 22,597 | 27.8% | 26.5% | +2,715 | +1.8pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 11,255 | 13.1% | 11.3% | 10,493 | 12.9% | 11.3% | +762 | +0.2pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 7,570 | 8.8% | 8.4% | 7,705 | 9.5% | 9.1% | -135 | -0.7pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 18,002 | 21.0% | 25.5% | 15,386 | 18.9% | 21.5% | +2,616 | +2.1pp |
| Not Stated | 3,734 | 4.4% | 6.0% | 5,250 | 6.5% | 8.3% | -1,516 | -2.1pp |
| Total | 85,614 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 81,281 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,333 | 0.0pp |