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 Merriwa (WA), accounting for 59.9% (2,691 people). This share was lower than Wanneroo (C) (66.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in doing unpaid domestic work, which increased by 2,622 people, while its share fell by 5.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Merriwa (WA) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Merriwa (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merriwa (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
2,691
% of total
59.9%
Change from 2016
-5.8pp
2,691
59.9%
-5.8pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
747
% of total
16.6%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
747
16.6%
+1.4pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
1,078
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,078
24.0%
+1.1pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
480
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
480
10.7%
-1.7pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
386
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
-6.6pp
386
8.6%
-6.6pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
1,444
% of total
32.2%
Change from 2016
+17.0pp
1,444
32.2%
+17.0pp
Not Stated
2021 count
355
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-7.3pp
355
7.9%
-7.3pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
+2,622
-5.8pp
Less Than 5 Hours
+731
+1.4pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+1,054
+1.1pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+467
-1.7pp
30 Hours Or More
+370
-6.6pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+1,428
+17.0pp
Not Stated
+339
-7.3pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Merriwa (WA). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | % | Wanneroo (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 2,691 | 59.9% | 66.5% | 69 | 65.7% | 69.6% | +2,622 | -5.8pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 747 | 16.6% | 21.1% | 16 | 15.2% | 22.9% | +731 | +1.4pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 1,078 | 24.0% | 26.3% | 24 | 22.9% | 26.3% | +1,054 | +1.1pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 480 | 10.7% | 10.8% | 13 | 12.4% | 11.1% | +467 | -1.7pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 386 | 8.6% | 8.4% | 16 | 15.2% | 9.2% | +370 | -6.6pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 1,444 | 32.2% | 28.1% | 16 | 15.2% | 22.8% | +1,428 | +17.0pp |
| Not Stated | 355 | 7.9% | 5.4% | 16 | 15.2% | 7.6% | +339 | -7.3pp |
| Total | 4,491 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 105 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,386 | 0.0pp |