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 Chatswood West (part), accounting for 76.6% (938 people). This share was higher than Willoughby (C) (72.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in less Than 5 Hours, which decreased by 66 people and 5.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Unpaid domestic work
Chatswood West (part) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Chatswood West (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Willoughby (C) and change since 2016.
Unpaid domestic work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chatswood West (part), with comparison markers for Willoughby (C).
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
938
% of total
76.6%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
938
76.6%
-2.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
2021 count
231
% of total
18.9%
Change from 2016
-5.5pp
231
18.9%
-5.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
2021 count
372
% of total
30.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
372
30.4%
-0.1pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
2021 count
205
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
205
16.7%
+1.2pp
30 Hours Or More
2021 count
130
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
130
10.6%
+2.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
2021 count
253
% of total
20.7%
Change from 2016
+4.0pp
253
20.7%
+4.0pp
Not Stated
2021 count
39
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
39
3.2%
-1.3pp
Chart view
Unpaid domestic work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Did Unpaid Domestic Work
-19
-2.0pp
Less Than 5 Hours
-66
-5.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours
+1
-0.1pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours
+16
+1.2pp
30 Hours Or More
+30
+2.4pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work
+49
+4.0pp
Not Stated
-16
-1.3pp
Data table
Unpaid domestic work for Chatswood West (part). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Willoughby (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Did Unpaid Domestic Work | 938 | 76.6% | 72.9% | 957 | 78.6% | 72.1% | -19 | -2.0pp |
| Less Than 5 Hours | 231 | 18.9% | 21.1% | 297 | 24.4% | 26.0% | -66 | -5.5pp |
| Between 5 And 14 Hours | 372 | 30.4% | 29.9% | 371 | 30.5% | 26.9% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Between 15 And 29 Hours | 205 | 16.7% | 13.5% | 189 | 15.5% | 11.5% | +16 | +1.2pp |
| 30 Hours Or More | 130 | 10.6% | 8.4% | 100 | 8.2% | 7.8% | +30 | +2.4pp |
| Did No Unpaid Domestic Work | 253 | 20.7% | 23.2% | 204 | 16.7% | 21.9% | +49 | +4.0pp |
| Not Stated | 39 | 3.2% | 3.9% | 55 | 4.5% | 5.9% | -16 | -1.3pp |
| Total | 1,225 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,218 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7 | 0.0pp |