NAME OF COLLECTION
Time Use Survey
Contact
Assistant Director
Welfare Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics
PO Box 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Telephone: Canberra (02) 6252 7070
Facsimile: Canberra (02) 6253 1673
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au
Internet: www.abs.gov.au
Purpose
To measure the daily activity patterns of people in Australia in order to establish a basic Australian time use profile and to help derive a monetary value for all forms of unpaid work.
Description
This survey examines how people allocate time to different kinds of activities. It provides information on time spent in paid work, unpaid housework and shopping, caring for children and frail, sick and disabled people, community participation, education, leisure and personal maintenance. For the 1992 survey, a national sample was taken of approximately 3,000 households. Data were collected by personal interview of householders and by diaries kept by each person aged 15 and over in households. Basic demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were collected by interview. These include age, sex, birthplace, birthplace of parents, employment, education and income. Information was collected by diary on the activities in which people engaged and the time they spent on them.
Data detail
The main activity categories include:
- labour force;
- domestic activities;
- child care/minding;
- purchasing goods and services;
- personal care;
- education;
- voluntary work and community participation;
- social life and entertainment;
- active leisure; and
- passive leisure.
Time use data are classified by socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of householders.
Data are available for Australia and larger States. Capital city, rest of State, urban and rest of State rural data may be available on a consultancy basis.
With regard to tourism, under the category ‘active leisure’, information was collected on the time spent on holiday travel and driving for pleasure.
Geographic coverage
Australia.
Frequency of data availability
Five-yearly to 1997,then twelve yearly.
Historical data
The first survey was conducted in 1992 and another in 1997. The next survey is scheduled for 2009.
Products and services available
Publications
Time Use Survey, Australia - User’s Guide (cat. no. 4150.0)
How Australians Use Their Time - Selected Findings from the 1992 Time Use Survey, Australia (cat. no. 4153.0)
Focus on Families: Family Life (cat. no. 4425.0)
Other
Time Use Survey, Australian - Unit Record File (cat. no. 4152.0)
Print Page
Print All