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 Northern Areas (DC), accounting for 74.4% (2,785 people). This share was higher than Regional SA (69.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 104 people and 2.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Northern Areas (DC) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Northern Areas (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northern Areas (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
2,785
% of total
74.4%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
2,785
74.4%
+2.5pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
711
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
711
19.0%
+0.4pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
1,051
% of total
28.1%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
1,051
28.1%
+2.7pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
537
% of total
14.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
537
14.3%
+0.8pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
486
% of total
13.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
486
13.0%
-1.3pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
712
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
712
19.0%
0.0pp
Not Stated
2021 count
256
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
256
6.8%
-2.1pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+104
+2.5pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+16
+0.4pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+104
+2.7pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+32
+0.8pp
30 Hours Or More
-48
-1.3pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+2
0.0pp
Not Stated
-76
-2.1pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Northern Areas (DC). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 2,785 | 74.4% | 69.3% | 2,681 | 71.9% | 69.8% | +104 | +2.5pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 711 | 19.0% | 17.9% | 695 | 18.6% | 18.4% | +16 | +0.4pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 1,051 | 28.1% | 27.0% | 947 | 25.4% | 26.0% | +104 | +2.7pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 537 | 14.3% | 13.9% | 505 | 13.5% | 13.8% | +32 | +0.8pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 486 | 13.0% | 10.4% | 534 | 14.3% | 11.5% | -48 | -1.3pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 712 | 19.0% | 22.7% | 710 | 19.0% | 20.0% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Not Stated | 256 | 6.8% | 8.0% | 332 | 8.9% | 10.2% | -76 | -2.1pp |
| Total | 3,744 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,728 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +16 | 0.0pp |