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 South Gippsland (S), accounting for 73.7% (18,755 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (69.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 1,888 people and 2.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Unpaid domestic work

South Gippsland (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises unpaid domestic work for South Gippsland (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.

Unpaid domestic work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Did Unpaid Domestic Work

+1,888

+2.2pp

Less Than 5 Hours

+262

-0.3pp

Between 5 And 14 Hours

+926

+1.8pp

Between 15 And 29 Hours

+513

+0.9pp

30 Hours Or More

+187

-0.1pp

Did No Unpaid Domestic Work

+652

+1.2pp

Not Stated

-669

-3.4pp

Data table

Unpaid domestic work for South Gippsland (S). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Unpaid domestic work for South Gippsland (S). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Unpaid domestic work for South Gippsland (S). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
Did Unpaid Domestic Work18,75573.7%69.2%16,86771.5%69.2%+1,888+2.2pp
Less Than 5 Hours4,62318.2%18.5%4,36118.5%19.9%+262-0.3pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours6,95927.4%27.3%6,03325.6%25.8%+926+1.8pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours4,02715.8%13.4%3,51414.9%12.9%+513+0.9pp
30 Hours Or More3,14612.4%10.0%2,95912.5%10.7%+187-0.1pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work4,79418.8%23.4%4,14217.6%20.3%+652+1.2pp
Not Stated1,9017.5%7.5%2,57010.9%10.5%-669-3.4pp
Total25,444100.0%100.0%23,581100.0%100.0%+1,8630.0pp