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46 percent of men did food preparation or cleanup on average day in 2017, up from 35 percent in 2003
July 06, 2018
From 2003 to 2017, on an average day, the share of men doing food preparation and cleanup increased from 35 percent to 46 percent. Over the same period, the share for women also increased, from 66 percent in 2003 to 69 percent in 2017.
Percentage of the civilian population engaged in primary activities, averages per day by sex, 2003 and 2017 annual averages
Activity
2003
2017
Total
Men
Women
Total
Men
Women
Housework
37.5%
19.4%
54.4%
34.4%
18.6%
49.3%
Food preparation and cleanup
50.8
34.7
65.9
57.6
45.7
68.9
Lawn and garden care
10.2
11.7
8.7
9.7
11.4
8.0
Household management
15.6
12.9
18.1
18.7
15.7
21.6
Consumer goods purchases
41.5
37.6
45.1
40.2
35.5
44.6
Purchasing professional and personal care services
9.4
7.2
11.5
7.3
5.6
8.8
Caring for and helping household children under 18
22.0
16.1
27.5
20.1
15.6
24.3
Caring for and helping nonhousehold adults
10.5
10.0
11.0
7.2
6.3
8.1
Working
44.1
51.3
37.3
42.0
48.3
36.1
Attending class
5.6
5.2
5.9
5.2
5.5
4.9
Religious and spiritual activities
8.1
6.4
9.6
9.3
6.8
11.7
Volunteering (organizational and civic activities)
6.4
5.5
7.2
6.1
4.5
7.6
Socializing and communicating
40.2
36.1
44.1
35.7
33.3
37.9
Watching TV
78.8
80.1
77.5
77.7
78.7
76.7
Participating in sports, exercise, and recreation
17.3
18.9
15.7
19.0
20.2
17.8
Telephone calls, mail, and e-mail
25.6
19.6
31.2
19.7
15.1
24.0
In 2017, on an average day, 19 percent of men did housework such as cleaning or laundry. The same percentage of men did housework in 2003. In 2017, forty-nine percent of women did housework. This compared with 54 percent of women in 2003. In 2017, men (11 percent) were slightly more likely to engage in lawn and garden care than were women (8 percent).
From 2003 to 2017, the share of men and women engaged in telephone calls, mail, and e-mail decreased, from 20 percent to 15 percent for men and from 31 percent to 24 percent for women.
United States Department of Labor
