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, not doing unpaid domestic work was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Edinburgh, accounting for 49.2% (185 people). This share was higher than Salisbury (C) (32.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 88 people and 13.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Edinburgh - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Edinburgh in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Edinburgh, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
174
% of total
46.3%
Change from 2016
-6.6pp
174
46.3%
-6.6pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
105
% of total
27.9%
Change from 2016
-7.0pp
105
27.9%
-7.0pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
55
% of total
14.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
55
14.6%
-0.1pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
14
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
14
3.7%
+0.4pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
185
% of total
49.2%
Change from 2016
+13.5pp
185
49.2%
+13.5pp
Not Stated
2021 count
12
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-10.8pp
12
3.2%
-10.8pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+30
-6.6pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+10
-7.0pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+15
-0.1pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+5
+0.4pp
30 Hours Or More
0
0.0pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+88
+13.5pp
Not Stated
-26
-10.8pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Edinburgh. Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 174 | 46.3% | 62.6% | 144 | 52.9% | 66.5% | +30 | -6.6pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 105 | 27.9% | 19.2% | 95 | 34.9% | 20.9% | +10 | -7.0pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 55 | 14.6% | 24.5% | 40 | 14.7% | 25.3% | +15 | -0.1pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 14 | 3.7% | 10.6% | 9 | 3.3% | 11.3% | +5 | +0.4pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 0 | 0.0% | 8.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 8.9% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 185 | 49.2% | 32.4% | 97 | 35.7% | 26.8% | +88 | +13.5pp |
| Not Stated | 12 | 3.2% | 5.0% | 38 | 14.0% | 6.7% | -26 | -10.8pp |
| Total | 376 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 272 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +104 | 0.0pp |