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.

Key insight

In 2021, doing unpaid domestic work was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Woollahra (A), accounting for 74.7% (34,036 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (65.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in between 5 And 14 Hours, which increased by 2,681 people and 6 percentage points.

Section overview

Unpaid domestic work

Woollahra (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises unpaid domestic work for Woollahra (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Unpaid domestic work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Woollahra (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Woollahra (A)
Greater Sydney

Did Unpaid Domestic Work

2021 count

34,036

% of total

74.7%

Change from 2016

+3.8pp

Less Than 5 Hours

2021 count

11,608

% of total

25.5%

Change from 2016

-5.5pp

Between 5 And 14 Hours

2021 count

14,328

% of total

31.5%

Change from 2016

+6.0pp

Between 15 And 29 Hours

2021 count

5,134

% of total

11.3%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

30 Hours Or More

2021 count

2,966

% of total

6.5%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Did No Unpaid Domestic Work

2021 count

8,835

% of total

19.4%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Not Stated

2021 count

2,672

% of total

5.9%

Change from 2016

-4.6pp

Data table

Unpaid domestic work for Woollahra (A). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Unpaid domestic work for Woollahra (A). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Unpaid domestic work for Woollahra (A). Unpaid domestic work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Did Unpaid Domestic Work34,03674.7%65.5%32,46670.9%67.0%+1,570+3.8pp
Less Than 5 Hours11,60825.5%19.0%14,16831.0%23.8%-2,560-5.5pp
Between 5 And 14 Hours14,32831.5%26.1%11,64725.5%24.6%+2,681+6.0pp
Between 15 And 29 Hours5,13411.3%11.8%4,0348.8%10.4%+1,100+2.5pp
30 Hours Or More2,9666.5%8.6%2,6175.7%8.1%+349+0.8pp
Did No Unpaid Domestic Work8,83519.4%28.5%8,49218.6%25.2%+343+0.8pp
Not Stated2,6725.9%6.1%4,81210.5%7.8%-2,140-4.6pp
Total45,542100.0%100.0%45,764100.0%100.0%-2220.0pp