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.

Key insight

In 2021, doing unpaid domestic work was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Singleton (A), accounting for 69.4% (13,532 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (68.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 1,135 people and 4.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Unpaid domestic work

Singleton (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Singleton (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Unpaid domestic work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Did Unpaid Domestic Work

+519

-2.4pp

Less Than 5 Hours

-137

-2.1pp

Between 5 And 14 Hours

+475

+0.5pp

Between 15 And 29 Hours

+275

+0.5pp

30 Hours Or More

-94

-1.4pp

Did No Unpaid Domestic Work

+1,135

+4.5pp

Not Stated

-275

-2.1pp

Data table

Unpaid domestic work for Singleton (A). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Unpaid domestic work for Singleton (A). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Unpaid domestic work for Singleton (A). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Did Unpaid Domestic Work13,53269.4%68.6%13,01371.8%69.2%+519-2.4pp
Less Than 5 Hours3,46417.8%18.5%3,60119.9%19.6%-137-2.1pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours5,28827.1%27.3%4,81326.6%26.1%+475+0.5pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours2,64813.6%13.3%2,37313.1%13.0%+275+0.5pp
30 Hours Or More2,13210.9%9.5%2,22612.3%10.5%-94-1.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work4,57823.5%23.9%3,44319.0%20.5%+1,135+4.5pp
Not Stated1,3917.1%7.5%1,6669.2%10.2%-275-2.1pp
Total19,501100.0%100.0%18,127100.0%100.0%+1,3740.0pp