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 Muswellbrook (A), accounting for 65% (8,376 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (68.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 825 people and 5.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Muswellbrook (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Muswellbrook (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Muswellbrook (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
8,376
% of total
65.0%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
8,376
65.0%
-3.3pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
2,296
% of total
17.8%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
2,296
17.8%
-1.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
3,299
% of total
25.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
3,299
25.6%
+0.6pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
1,513
% of total
11.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,513
11.7%
-0.4pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
1,268
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
1,268
9.8%
-2.0pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
3,314
% of total
25.7%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
3,314
25.7%
+5.7pp
Not Stated
2021 count
1,211
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
1,211
9.4%
-2.4pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
-129
-3.3pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-111
-1.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+185
+0.6pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+4
-0.4pp
30 Hours Or More
-207
-2.0pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+825
+5.7pp
Not Stated
-262
-2.4pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Muswellbrook (A). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 8,376 | 65.0% | 68.6% | 8,505 | 68.3% | 69.2% | -129 | -3.3pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 2,296 | 17.8% | 18.5% | 2,407 | 19.3% | 19.6% | -111 | -1.5pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 3,299 | 25.6% | 27.3% | 3,114 | 25.0% | 26.1% | +185 | +0.6pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 1,513 | 11.7% | 13.3% | 1,509 | 12.1% | 13.0% | +4 | -0.4pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 1,268 | 9.8% | 9.5% | 1,475 | 11.8% | 10.5% | -207 | -2.0pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 3,314 | 25.7% | 23.9% | 2,489 | 20.0% | 20.5% | +825 | +5.7pp |
| Not Stated | 1,211 | 9.4% | 7.5% | 1,473 | 11.8% | 10.2% | -262 | -2.4pp |
| Total | 12,894 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,458 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +436 | 0.0pp |