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 Northmead, accounting for 70.8% (6,442 people). This share was higher than Parramatta (C) (63%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in less Than 5 Hours, which decreased by 356 people and 3.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Northmead - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Northmead in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Parramatta (C) and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northmead, with comparison markers for Parramatta (C).
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
6,442
% of total
70.8%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
6,442
70.8%
-1.3pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
1,730
% of total
19.0%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
1,730
19.0%
-3.9pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
2,618
% of total
28.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
2,618
28.8%
+0.4pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
1,256
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,256
13.8%
+2.1pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
838
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
838
9.2%
+0.2pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
2,220
% of total
24.4%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
2,220
24.4%
+1.7pp
Not Stated
2021 count
434
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
434
4.8%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
-110
-1.3pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-356
-3.9pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+39
+0.4pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+190
+2.1pp
30 Hours Or More
+17
+0.2pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+157
+1.7pp
Not Stated
-53
-0.6pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Northmead. Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Parramatta (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Parramatta (C)% | Count | % | Parramatta (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 6,442 | 70.8% | 63.0% | 6,552 | 72.1% | 66.2% | -110 | -1.3pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 1,730 | 19.0% | 17.4% | 2,086 | 22.9% | 22.6% | -356 | -3.9pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 2,618 | 28.8% | 25.0% | 2,579 | 28.4% | 24.3% | +39 | +0.4pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 1,256 | 13.8% | 11.9% | 1,066 | 11.7% | 10.7% | +190 | +2.1pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 838 | 9.2% | 8.7% | 821 | 9.0% | 8.6% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 2,220 | 24.4% | 30.9% | 2,063 | 22.7% | 25.8% | +157 | +1.7pp |
| Not Stated | 434 | 4.8% | 6.1% | 487 | 5.4% | 8.0% | -53 | -0.6pp |
| Total | 9,098 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 9,093 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5 | 0.0pp |