fascinating Families
fascinating Families November 23, 2011
issue 42
All in a Day’s Work
D
uring the past decade, the length of average workday – including both paid and unpaid work – has increased by 6 minutes, reaching 8.1 hours in 2010.1 Over the course of a year, this small gain represents 36.5 extra hours of work per person - the equivalent of a full-time work week. Not all work, however, is created equal. A closer examination of the trend shows quite different patterns of time use between men and women. The slight increase in men’s workday was the exclusive result of an increase in men’s unpaid work. Indeed, men spent 14 minutes less per day on paid work and work-related activities in 2010 than they did in 1998. The 10 minute increase in women’s workday came from small increases in both paid and unpaid work. Interestingly, the proportion of Canadians performing housework and care dropped between 1998 and 2010, lead by a decline in the number doing the cooking and housekeeping. That said, the average time devoted to unpaid work as a whole increased as Canadians spent more time on child care and home maintenance. Men increased their time engaged in unpaid work by 13 minutes, while the situation among women remained largely the same. On average, women continue to do more household work and care than men, 4.3 hours vs. 3.1 hours per day, respectively. Interestingly, despite smaller average family size, time spent on child care continues to rise among men and women, including: feeding, reading, playing, providing medical care, and related travel. In 2010, parents with pre-school children spent 2.8 hours of their day taking care of children as their primary task, and 1.3 hours per day caring for children aged 5 to 12. Women with children, on average, spend 2.9 hours per day on child care compared to 1.9 hours among men with children.
For many Canadians, the longer workday has coincided with less time spent socializing with friends and relatives face-toface, talking on the phone and having meals out. Many more are reporting, however, that they connect with family and friends on-line. The proportion who connect through email, on-line social-networking and the Internet increased from 5% in 1998 to 24% in 2010. On average, computer users spent 1 hour and 23 minutes per day on-line.
Family Lens Gender roles have converged somewhat over the past twenty years: more women participate in the labour force and men have increased their involvement in child care and, to a lesser degree, housework. Women in couple families still do the lion’s share of unpaid housework and caregiving, but the gap is narrowing, especially among younger adults. 2 /..2
The total workday includes paid work and related activities such as commuting, household work and related activities as well as caring activities. Average time is calculated for the population, averaged over a seven-day week. 1
2 Katherine Marshall (2011), “Generational change in paid and unpaid work,” Canadian Social Trends, Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 11-008-X. http://bit.ly/nOMsfa
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f a s c i n a t i n g Families
November 23, 2011
issue 42
Participation in, and time spent on, paid work, housework and other unpaid work Men (15+) 1998
Women(15+)
2010
1998
2010
Average hours per day (time averaged over seven days among participants) Total Paid and Unpaid Work
8.1
8.1
7.9
8.1
Paid work and related
8.8
8.6
7.7
7.7
Work
8.2
7.9
7.1
7.3
Related activities (i.e., commuting)
1.0
1.2
0.9
0.9
Housework (and related activities)
2.9
3.1
4.3
4.3
1.8
1.9
2.4
2.9
Child care Civic and Voluntary
2.0
2.3
1.9
2.3
Education (and related activities)
6.2
5.5
6.4
5.3
Personal Care Activities
10.2
10.6
10.6
10.9
Free Time Activities
6.1
6.0
5.7
5.4
1998
2010
1998
2010
Participation (%) Total Paid and Unpaid Work
97
95
99
98
Paid work and related
51
49
36
39
Work
50
47
35
37
Related activities (i.e., commuting)
45
43
32
34
Housework (and related activities)
85
81
95
91
16
16
24
22
Civic and Voluntary
17
15
19
18
Education (and related activities)
9
10
9
12
Personal Care Activities
100
100
100
100
Free Time Activities
97
96
97
96
Child care
Source: Statistics Canada (2011), General Social Survey, 2010: Overview of the Time Use of Canadians. http://www.statcan. gc.ca/pub/89-647-x/2011001/hl-fs-eng.htm#a1
94 prom. Centerpointe Drive Ottawa, Ontario K2G 6B1 www.vifamily.ca
issue 42
All in a Day’s Work
D
uring the past decade, the length of average workday – including both paid and unpaid work – has increased by 6 minutes, reaching 8.1 hours in 2010.1 Over the course of a year, this small gain represents 36.5 extra hours of work per person - the equivalent of a full-time work week. Not all work, however, is created equal. A closer examination of the trend shows quite different patterns of time use between men and women. The slight increase in men’s workday was the exclusive result of an increase in men’s unpaid work. Indeed, men spent 14 minutes less per day on paid work and work-related activities in 2010 than they did in 1998. The 10 minute increase in women’s workday came from small increases in both paid and unpaid work. Interestingly, the proportion of Canadians performing housework and care dropped between 1998 and 2010, lead by a decline in the number doing the cooking and housekeeping. That said, the average time devoted to unpaid work as a whole increased as Canadians spent more time on child care and home maintenance. Men increased their time engaged in unpaid work by 13 minutes, while the situation among women remained largely the same. On average, women continue to do more household work and care than men, 4.3 hours vs. 3.1 hours per day, respectively. Interestingly, despite smaller average family size, time spent on child care continues to rise among men and women, including: feeding, reading, playing, providing medical care, and related travel. In 2010, parents with pre-school children spent 2.8 hours of their day taking care of children as their primary task, and 1.3 hours per day caring for children aged 5 to 12. Women with children, on average, spend 2.9 hours per day on child care compared to 1.9 hours among men with children.
For many Canadians, the longer workday has coincided with less time spent socializing with friends and relatives face-toface, talking on the phone and having meals out. Many more are reporting, however, that they connect with family and friends on-line. The proportion who connect through email, on-line social-networking and the Internet increased from 5% in 1998 to 24% in 2010. On average, computer users spent 1 hour and 23 minutes per day on-line.
Family Lens Gender roles have converged somewhat over the past twenty years: more women participate in the labour force and men have increased their involvement in child care and, to a lesser degree, housework. Women in couple families still do the lion’s share of unpaid housework and caregiving, but the gap is narrowing, especially among younger adults. 2 /..2
The total workday includes paid work and related activities such as commuting, household work and related activities as well as caring activities. Average time is calculated for the population, averaged over a seven-day week. 1
2 Katherine Marshall (2011), “Generational change in paid and unpaid work,” Canadian Social Trends, Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 11-008-X. http://bit.ly/nOMsfa
Stay informed. Join the conversation. Make a donation.
f a s c i n a t i n g Families
November 23, 2011
issue 42
Participation in, and time spent on, paid work, housework and other unpaid work Men (15+) 1998
Women(15+)
2010
1998
2010
Average hours per day (time averaged over seven days among participants) Total Paid and Unpaid Work
8.1
8.1
7.9
8.1
Paid work and related
8.8
8.6
7.7
7.7
Work
8.2
7.9
7.1
7.3
Related activities (i.e., commuting)
1.0
1.2
0.9
0.9
Housework (and related activities)
2.9
3.1
4.3
4.3
1.8
1.9
2.4
2.9
Child care Civic and Voluntary
2.0
2.3
1.9
2.3
Education (and related activities)
6.2
5.5
6.4
5.3
Personal Care Activities
10.2
10.6
10.6
10.9
Free Time Activities
6.1
6.0
5.7
5.4
1998
2010
1998
2010
Participation (%) Total Paid and Unpaid Work
97
95
99
98
Paid work and related
51
49
36
39
Work
50
47
35
37
Related activities (i.e., commuting)
45
43
32
34
Housework (and related activities)
85
81
95
91
16
16
24
22
Civic and Voluntary
17
15
19
18
Education (and related activities)
9
10
9
12
Personal Care Activities
100
100
100
100
Free Time Activities
97
96
97
96
Child care
Source: Statistics Canada (2011), General Social Survey, 2010: Overview of the Time Use of Canadians. http://www.statcan. gc.ca/pub/89-647-x/2011001/hl-fs-eng.htm#a1
94 prom. Centerpointe Drive Ottawa, Ontario K2G 6B1 www.vifamily.ca
