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 Northam (S), accounting for 62.2% (5,784 people). This share was lower than Regional WA (66.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 413 people and 3.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Northam (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Northam (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northam (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
5,784
% of total
62.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
5,784
62.2%
-1.1pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
1,520
% of total
16.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,520
16.3%
-0.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
2,172
% of total
23.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,172
23.4%
+0.3pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
1,122
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,122
12.1%
+0.2pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
970
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
970
10.4%
-1.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
2,249
% of total
24.2%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
2,249
24.2%
+3.8pp
Not Stated
2021 count
1,263
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
1,263
13.6%
-2.9pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+76
-1.1pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+36
-0.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+86
+0.3pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+45
+0.2pp
30 Hours Or More
-91
-1.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+413
+3.8pp
Not Stated
-223
-2.9pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Northam (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 | 5,784 | 62.2% | 66.3% | 5,708 | 63.3% | 67.1% | +76 | -1.1pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 1,520 | 16.3% | 18.5% | 1,484 | 16.5% | 19.3% | +36 | -0.2pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 2,172 | 23.4% | 26.0% | 2,086 | 23.1% | 25.0% | +86 | +0.3pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 1,122 | 12.1% | 11.9% | 1,077 | 11.9% | 12.0% | +45 | +0.2pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 970 | 10.4% | 9.8% | 1,061 | 11.8% | 10.9% | -91 | -1.4pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 2,249 | 24.2% | 22.1% | 1,836 | 20.4% | 20.0% | +413 | +3.8pp |
| Not Stated | 1,263 | 13.6% | 11.6% | 1,486 | 16.5% | 12.9% | -223 | -2.9pp |
| Total | 9,299 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 9,019 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +280 | 0.0pp |