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 Torres Strait Island (R), accounting for 66.9% (1,873 people). This share was similar to Regional Qld (67.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in less Than 5 Hours, which decreased by 165 people and 4.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Torres Strait Island (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Torres Strait Island (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Torres Strait Island (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
1,873
% of total
66.9%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,873
66.9%
+1.5pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
777
% of total
27.7%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
777
27.7%
-4.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
591
% of total
21.1%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
591
21.1%
+3.2pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
280
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+5.0pp
280
10.0%
+5.0pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
225
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
225
8.0%
-2.6pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
715
% of total
25.5%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
715
25.5%
+1.6pp
Not Stated
2021 count
202
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
202
7.2%
-3.8pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
-58
+1.5pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-165
-4.2pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+62
+3.2pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+133
+5.0pp
30 Hours Or More
-88
-2.6pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+9
+1.6pp
Not Stated
-122
-3.8pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Torres Strait Island (R). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 1,873 | 66.9% | 67.1% | 1,931 | 65.4% | 69.3% | -58 | +1.5pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 777 | 27.7% | 19.3% | 942 | 31.9% | 20.9% | -165 | -4.2pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 591 | 21.1% | 26.7% | 529 | 17.9% | 26.3% | +62 | +3.2pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 280 | 10.0% | 12.1% | 147 | 5.0% | 12.2% | +133 | +5.0pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 225 | 8.0% | 9.0% | 313 | 10.6% | 10.0% | -88 | -2.6pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 715 | 25.5% | 24.3% | 706 | 23.9% | 20.2% | +9 | +1.6pp |
| Not Stated | 202 | 7.2% | 8.6% | 324 | 11.0% | 10.4% | -122 | -3.8pp |
| Total | 2,801 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,954 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -153 | 0.0pp |