Unpaid U.S. Household Work Valued At Up To $6 Trillion In 2024

Unpaid household work in the United States had an estimated market value of $5.6 trillion to $6.0 trillion in 2024, equivalent to about 19.2% to 20.6% of U.S. gross domestic product, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

An estimated 87.3% of people ages 15 and older performed some unpaid household work on a typical day, spending an average of 3.72 hours on it, excluding secondary child care.

The work includes domestic tasks such as cooking and cleaning, as well as caregiving for children and adults.

The GAO said incorporating the estimated value of unpaid household work alongside GDP can provide a more comprehensive view of economic activity.

Based on its analysis of 2021-2024 American Time Use Survey data, the GAO found that 87.3% of people ages 15 and older performed at least some unpaid household work on a typical day, spending an average of about 3.72 hours on it.

The GAO estimated the average daily value of unpaid household work at roughly $65 to $70 per person among those engaged in the work, depending on the wage assumptions used.

The report also found that women, married individuals, people who were not employed and those ages 55 and older spent more time on unpaid domestic tasks than other groups.