Unpaid household work affecting women’s careers, mental health

A new research report released by online comparison website, Finder, has suggested that women still bear the brunt of household duties at the expense of their career growth and financial earnings.

Finder’s State of Women’s Wealth Report for 2025 found that, on average, Australian women hold 40 per cent less net wealth than men, and the research shows that this gender wealth gap is contributed to at several different life stages, beginning in childhood and adolescence and going all the way into retirement.

According to the report, women taking an average of nine months’ parental leave miss out on $44,906 in income, based on average full-time wages, and $46,979 in lost superannuation by the time they retire; this is compared to $6,933 in income and $5,693 in superannuation missed out on by men who also take an average of three months’ parental leave.

This gender gap also extended to within private households, with women accounting for 72 per cent of primary unpaid carers and 57 per cent of all unpaid carers. The report also indicated that 34 per cent of women said they are responsible for almost all of the household duties, compared to only 10 per cent of men.

As a result of the “unequal split” in domestic tasks, 12 per cent of women feel it has impacted their ability to further their career (compared to only six per cent of men) and 34 per cent said their mental health and stress levels have been negatively affected (compared to 19 per cent of men).

Sarah Megginson, report author and personal finance expert at Finder, said the research also showed a clear discrepancy between “perception and reality” after 46 per cent of men respondents believe the household work is shared equally, compared to only 25 per cent of women who agree.

“This imbalance isn’t just about chores – it’s about carrying the mental load for your household, and the impact that has on your wealth and opportunities,” she said.

“When women are tied up with unpaid labour at home, it directly impacts their earning potential and long-term financial security. Many men believe household duties are split evenly, but women overwhelmingly disagree – and this is often because a lot of the work women do is ‘invisible’.

“This unequal burden has the potential to hold women back from career growth, higher earnings, and greater financial independence.”