HILDA Survey Reveals Rising Inequality, Gender Gaps in Housework, and Declining Religiosity in Australia

The 2022 Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia report highlights widening income disparities, stagnant domestic labor division, and shifts in religious affiliation over two decades.

• Economic inequality in Australia has reached its highest level in 20 years, with the Gini coefficient rising to 0.321 in 2022, driven by faster income growth for higher earners and stagnation for lower-income groups.
• Men's housework contributions have remained unchanged since 2002, averaging 12.8 hours per week, while women continue to shoulder a larger share of unpaid domestic labor despite increased participation in paid work.
• Homeownership rates among young Australians have declined significantly, with only 18% of 25- to 28-year-olds owning homes in 2022, compared to 26.5% in the mid-1970s, as housing affordability worsens.
• Australians are becoming less religious, with the proportion of individuals identifying as non-religious rising across all age groups, particularly among those aged 25-34.
• Childcare costs have surged, particularly for single-parent households, which have seen a 76% increase in expenses per child since 2006, further straining financial stability for this demographic.

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