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 Merredin (S), accounting for 66.4% (1,679 people). This share was similar to Regional WA (66.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which decreased by 157 people and 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Merredin (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Merredin (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merredin (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
1,679
% of total
66.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
1,679
66.4%
-1.8pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
490
% of total
19.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
490
19.4%
+0.8pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
630
% of total
24.9%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
630
24.9%
-2.0pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
284
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
284
11.2%
-0.3pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
275
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
275
10.9%
-0.2pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
526
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
526
20.8%
+0.2pp
Not Stated
2021 count
331
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
331
13.1%
+1.8pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
-157
-1.8pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-11
+0.8pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
-96
-2.0pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
-25
-0.3pp
30 Hours Or More
-25
-0.2pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
-29
+0.2pp
Not Stated
+27
+1.8pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Merredin (S). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 1,679 | 66.4% | 66.3% | 1,836 | 68.2% | 67.1% | -157 | -1.8pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 490 | 19.4% | 18.5% | 501 | 18.6% | 19.3% | -11 | +0.8pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 630 | 24.9% | 26.0% | 726 | 26.9% | 25.0% | -96 | -2.0pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 284 | 11.2% | 11.9% | 309 | 11.5% | 12.0% | -25 | -0.3pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 275 | 10.9% | 9.8% | 300 | 11.1% | 10.9% | -25 | -0.2pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 526 | 20.8% | 22.1% | 555 | 20.6% | 20.0% | -29 | +0.2pp |
| Not Stated | 331 | 13.1% | 11.6% | 304 | 11.3% | 12.9% | +27 | +1.8pp |
| Total | 2,528 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,694 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -166 | 0.0pp |