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 Surf Coast (S), accounting for 77.6% (23,494 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (69.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 5,398 people and 0.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Surf Coast (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Surf Coast (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Surf Coast (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
23,494
% of total
77.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
23,494
77.6%
+0.1pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
6,081
% of total
20.1%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
6,081
20.1%
-3.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
9,794
% of total
32.4%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
9,794
32.4%
+3.5pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
4,646
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
4,646
15.4%
+0.7pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
2,973
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
2,973
9.8%
-0.8pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
4,903
% of total
16.2%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
4,903
16.2%
+1.3pp
Not Stated
2021 count
1,855
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,855
6.1%
-1.5pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+5,398
+0.1pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+646
-3.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+3,038
+3.5pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+1,210
+0.7pp
30 Hours Or More
+504
-0.8pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+1,422
+1.3pp
Not Stated
+77
-1.5pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Surf Coast (S). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 23,494 | 77.6% | 69.2% | 18,096 | 77.5% | 69.2% | +5,398 | +0.1pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 6,081 | 20.1% | 18.5% | 5,435 | 23.3% | 19.9% | +646 | -3.2pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 9,794 | 32.4% | 27.3% | 6,756 | 28.9% | 25.8% | +3,038 | +3.5pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 4,646 | 15.4% | 13.4% | 3,436 | 14.7% | 12.9% | +1,210 | +0.7pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 2,973 | 9.8% | 10.0% | 2,469 | 10.6% | 10.7% | +504 | -0.8pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 4,903 | 16.2% | 23.4% | 3,481 | 14.9% | 20.3% | +1,422 | +1.3pp |
| Not Stated | 1,855 | 6.1% | 7.5% | 1,778 | 7.6% | 10.5% | +77 | -1.5pp |
| Total | 30,258 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 23,345 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,913 | 0.0pp |