Zimbabweans spend more time on unpaid work

The majority of Zimbabweans are spending a significant portion of their time on unpaid work, with women carrying a disproportionate share of domestic and caregiving responsibilities, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat).

Findings from the 2025 Time Use Report, released yesterday, show that unpaid work plays a central role in the daily lives of many households, despite remaining largely unrecognised in formal economic measurements. The survey is the first of its kind in Zimbabwe and was conducted with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), UN Women and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

The report shows that while both men and women spend the largest share of their day on necessary personal activities such as sleeping, eating and personal care, stark gender differences emerge in how remaining time is allocated.

Women devote significantly more time to committed work activities, which include unpaid domestic chores and caregiving, while men spend more time on contracted work such as formal employment, own-use production of goods and learning activities, as well as on free time.

According to ZimStat, females spend about three times more time per day on committed work than males. In contrast, men spend 1,6 times more time on contracted work compared to women. Free time activities accounted for 18% of women's time and 21% of men's time.

Women aged between 25 and 34 years recorded the highest proportion of committed work time at 18,2% of the day, while those aged 65 and above recorded the lowest at 10,1%.

The report places the national employment participation rate at 29,7%, with Bulawayo recording the highest average time spent on employment-related activities. Men participated in employment at a rate 1,6 times higher than women. Among those employed, the average time spent on work was 7,8 hours per day, with women averaging 7,1 hours and men 8,5 hours.

Unpaid domestic work remains widespread, with 76% of the population participating in such activities. Female participation stood at 89,9%, compared to 51,7% for males, with an average of 2,7 hours per day spent on unpaid domestic work.

ZimStat said the overall work-life balance ratio was the same for both men and women at 0,5, meaning half an hour was spent on work-related activities for every hour of personal time. However, women recorded a higher ratio of 1,8, compared to 1,6 for men, indicating that women devoted a larger share of their time to work relative to free time.

The survey also highlighted disparities linked to disability. Females and males with functional disabilities spent less time on learning activities, averaging 3,6 hours, compared to 5,8 hours for those without disabilities. Participation in own-use production was also slightly lower among persons with disabilities (38%) than those without (41,2%).

ZimStat said time-use statistics are critical for shaping inclusive labour market policies, advancing gender equality initiatives and supporting evidence-based national development planning, particularly in recognising and valuing unpaid work that sustains households and communities.