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Unpaid domestic work: number of hours (DOMP)

Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable records the number of hours people spent in the previous week doing domestic work without pay. Domestic work is work for the individual or household, whether in the household or in other places. Unpaid domestic work can include:

  • meal preparation, service and clean-up
  • washing, ironing and managing clothes
  • any other housework
  • gardening, mowing and yard work
  • home maintenance
  • car/bike maintenance
  • household shopping and managing household financial affairs
  • maintaining home internet connections and computer systems.

Any domestic work done as part of paid employment is excluded. Data from this variable will help provide an understanding of the way individuals and families balance paid work with other important aspects of their lives. For example, family and community commitments.

Scope

Persons aged 15 years and over

Categories

CodeCategory
1Nil hours
2Less than 5 hours
35 to 14 hours
415 to 29 hours
530 hours or more
&Not stated
@Not applicable
VOverseas visitor

Number of categories: 8

Not applicable (@) category comprises:

  • Persons aged under 15 years

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

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

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

Include all housework, food/drink preparation and clean-up, laundry, gardening, home maintenance and repairs, and household shopping and finance management.

More information

No, did not do any unpaid domestic work in the last week

Yes, less than 5 hours

Yes, 5-14 hours

Yes, 15-29 hours

Yes, 30 hours or more

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: In the last week did the person spend time doing unpaid domestic work for their household?

More information

In the last week did Person 1 spend time doing unpaid domestic work for their household?

Include all housework, food/drink preparation and clean-up, laundry, gardening, home maintenance and repairs, and household shopping and finance management.

More information

Include all domestic activities that the person did without pay, in their own home and in other places, for themselves and their household. Do not include any domestic activities that were done as part of any paid employment. Also exclude caring for children, elderly parents and people with a long-term illness or disability (other than cooking or cleaning for them), as these are addressed in the following questions.

Unpaid domestic work can include:
• meal preparation, service and clean-up
• washing, ironing and managing clothes
• any other housework
• gardening, mowing and yard work
• home maintenance
• car/bike maintenance
• household shopping
• managing household financial affairs
• maintaining home internet connections and computer systems.

How this variable is created

The variable is recorded directly from the unpaid domestic work question on the Census form. The responses to this question are captured automatically from mark box responses so the risk of errors during data processing are minimal. Where more than one response is marked, the 'Yes' response with the highest number of hours is accepted. This is accepted over any other responses, including any 'No' response.

History and changes

The question on unpaid domestic work was first asked in 2006.

No changes have been made for 2021.

Data use considerations

There are no data use considerations for this variable.

The non-response rate for Unpaid domestic work: number of hours (DOMP) was 6.6% in 2021. This is a decrease from 8.8% in 2016.

Related variables and glossary terms

  • Relationship in household (RLHP)
  • Voluntary work for an organisation or group (VOLWP)

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