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 Unincorporated ACT, accounting for 75.4% (279,868 people). This share was similar to Australian Capital Territory (75.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 33,437 people, while its share fell by 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Unincorporated ACT - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Unincorporated ACT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Australian Capital Territory and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated ACT, with comparison markers for Australian Capital Territory.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
279,868
% of total
75.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
279,868
75.4%
-1.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
85,498
% of total
23.0%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
85,498
23.0%
-2.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
122,804
% of total
33.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
122,804
33.1%
+1.4pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
46,976
% of total
12.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
46,976
12.7%
+0.5pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
24,590
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
24,590
6.6%
-0.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
73,668
% of total
19.9%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
73,668
19.9%
+3.2pp
Not Stated
2021 count
17,459
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
17,459
4.7%
-2.2pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+33,437
-1.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+3,141
-2.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+20,724
+1.4pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+7,584
+0.5pp
30 Hours Or More
+1,988
-0.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+19,815
+3.2pp
Not Stated
-4,682
-2.2pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Unincorporated ACT. Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Australian Capital Territory.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 279,868 | 75.4% | 75.4% | 246,431 | 76.4% | 76.4% | +33,437 | -1.0pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 85,498 | 23.0% | 23.0% | 82,357 | 25.5% | 25.5% | +3,141 | -2.5pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 122,804 | 33.1% | 33.1% | 102,080 | 31.7% | 31.7% | +20,724 | +1.4pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 46,976 | 12.7% | 12.7% | 39,392 | 12.2% | 12.2% | +7,584 | +0.5pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 24,590 | 6.6% | 6.6% | 22,602 | 7.0% | 7.0% | +1,988 | -0.4pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 73,668 | 19.9% | 19.9% | 53,853 | 16.7% | 16.7% | +19,815 | +3.2pp |
| Not Stated | 17,459 | 4.7% | 4.7% | 22,141 | 6.9% | 6.9% | -4,682 | -2.2pp |
| Total | 370,996 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 322,415 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +48,581 | 0.0pp |