idc-logo
svg rectangle color
AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Adelaide

Unpaid domestic work

In Greater Adelaide 12% of the male population over 15 did more than 14 hours of housework each week in 2021.

There has been increased interest in identifying, acknowledging and valuing the unpaid work that supports home and community life. The changing amount of time spent on unpaid housework in different Household Types and, particularly the distribution of this work within the household, can indicate the changing roles of males, females and older children in society. The level of unpaid domestic work in Greater Adelaide may also be related to Household Income, as higher income households are able to outsource some of these tasks.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'In the last week did the person spend time doing unpaid domestic work for their household?'

Unpaid domestic work
Greater Adelaide - Males aged 15+ (Usual residence)20212006Change
Hours spent on unpaid domestic workNumber%Regional Australia %Number%Regional Australia %2006 to 2021
Did unpaid domestic work374,08067.063.9308,08967.364.3+65,991
Less than 5 hours147,19026.423.9128,59728.125.8+18,593
Between 5 and 14 hours160,73728.826.6120,68326.324.5+40,054
Between 15 and 29 hours46,1338.38.737,6918.28.3+8,442
30 hours or more20,0203.64.721,1184.65.7-1,098
Did no unpaid domestic work157,83128.327.2110,52724.124.7+47,304
Not stated26,4144.78.939,4028.611.0-12,988
Total persons aged 15+558,325100.0100.0458,018100.0100.0+100,307
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the unpaid domestic work performed by the male population in Greater Adelaide in 2021 compared to Regional Australia shows that there was a lower proportion of males who performed 15 hours or more of unpaid domestic work per week.

Overall, 12% of the male population reported performing 15 hours or more of unpaid domestic work, compared with 13.4% for Regional Australia.

The major differences between the share of the male population performing unpaid domestic work in Greater Adelaide and Regional Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of males who did unpaid domestic work (total) (67.0% compared to 63.9%)
  • A larger percentage of males who did less than 5 hours of domestic work (26.4% compared to 23.9%)
  • A larger percentage of males who did between 5 and 14 hours of domestic work (28.8% compared to 26.6%)
  • A larger percentage of males who did no unpaid domestic work (28.3% compared to 27.2%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the number of males performing unpaid domestic work in Greater Adelaide, between 2006 and 2021 were those who:

  • Did unpaid domestic work (+65,991 males)
  • Did no unpaid domestic work (+47,304 males)
  • Between 5 and 14 hours (+40,054 males)
  • Less than 5 hours (+18,593 males)

DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.

Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices.

ABS Data and the copyright in the ABS Data remains the property of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the ABS Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. ABS Data can be accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au. ABS data can be used under license - terms published on ABS website. intermediary.management@abs.gov.au if you have any queries or wish to distribute any ABS data.