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 NSW, accounting for 72.9% (612 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (68.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 52 people and 8.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Unincorporated NSW - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Unincorporated NSW in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated NSW, with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
612
% of total
72.9%
Change from 2016
+8.5pp
612
72.9%
+8.5pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
172
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
172
20.5%
+0.8pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
224
% of total
26.7%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
224
26.7%
+1.7pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
123
% of total
14.6%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
123
14.6%
+3.6pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
93
% of total
11.1%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
93
11.1%
+2.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
150
% of total
17.9%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
150
17.9%
-4.2pp
Not Stated
2021 count
74
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-4.9pp
74
8.8%
-4.9pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+52
+8.5pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+1
+0.8pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+7
+1.7pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+27
+3.6pp
30 Hours Or More
+17
+2.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
-42
-4.2pp
Not Stated
-45
-4.9pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Unincorporated NSW. Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 612 | 72.9% | 68.6% | 560 | 64.4% | 69.2% | +52 | +8.5pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 172 | 20.5% | 18.5% | 171 | 19.7% | 19.6% | +1 | +0.8pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 224 | 26.7% | 27.3% | 217 | 25.0% | 26.1% | +7 | +1.7pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 123 | 14.6% | 13.3% | 96 | 11.0% | 13.0% | +27 | +3.6pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 93 | 11.1% | 9.5% | 76 | 8.7% | 10.5% | +17 | +2.4pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 150 | 17.9% | 23.9% | 192 | 22.1% | 20.5% | -42 | -4.2pp |
| Not Stated | 74 | 8.8% | 7.5% | 119 | 13.7% | 10.2% | -45 | -4.9pp |
| Total | 840 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 869 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -29 | 0.0pp |