A new survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed that women still do more unpaid work than men.
Releasing the results of How Australians Use Their Time, 2020-21, ABS’s Director of Social Surveys and Statistics, Lisa Scanlon said that among the unpaid work by women included domestic duties such as housework, food and drink preparation and shopping, as well as child care, adult care and volunteering activities.
“The publication provides a snapshot of how people balance their time between work, leisure, caring and other activities,” Ms Scanlon said.
“On average, females spent four hours and 31 minutes a day doing unpaid work activities,” she said.
“Males spent over an hour less on these activities, averaging three hours and 12 minutes a day.
“Less than half of males (42 per cent) spent time on housework, compared to 70 per cent of females.”
Ms Scanlon said mothers spent an average of three hours and 34 minutes participating in child care activities a day, while fathers spent two hours and 19 minutes.
Of those who spent time doing employment related activities, she said males spent eight hours and 13 minutes a day on the activities, compared to females who spent seven hours and 12 minutes.
The Survey also provided insight into the activities people did in their free time.
Ms Scanlon said that on average, people spent five hours and 27 minutes a day on free time activities that included social interaction, recreation and leisure activities.
“Three quarters of people reported watching television and video, for an average of two hours and 55 minutes a day,” she said.
“Thirty per cent of respondents spent time doing exercise, sport and outdoor activities for an average of one hour and 29 minutes a day.”
She said the survey asked how often participants felt rushed or pressed for time, finding that females aged 35 to 44 years were most likely to report always or often that they felt rushed for time (55 per cent).
The ABS’s Time Use Survey results can be accessed at this PS News link.
