kotitaloustyö

Kotitaloustyö refers to the tasks involved in managing a household and caring for its members. It includes cleaning, cooking, washing and ironing, grocery shopping, home maintenance, and other administrative chores that support daily life within the home. It can also involve caregiving for children, the elderly, or disabled family members, as well as organizing finances and coordinating repairs.

Kotitaloustyö is predominantly unpaid labor performed by household members. Historically it has been distributed unevenly along gender lines, with women bearing a larger share. This division affects women’s participation in the paid labor market, though patterns are shifting as more men undertake domestic tasks and more women engage in formal work. Time-use surveys highlight kotitaloustyö as a substantial component of how households structure their time.

The concept underscores the crucial but often undervalued role of domestic work in family well-being and societal functioning. Changes in family structures, work arrangements, and policy measures influence how kotitaloustyö is organized and perceived. In Finland, households may hire paid help for domestic tasks; such services are regulated by labor law, and tax incentives like the kotitalousvähennys encourage private individuals to use domestic services.

Ongoing discussions emphasize the need to recognize domestic labor, promote work–life balance, and ensure equitable sharing of chores. Kotitaloustyö also encompasses informal caregiving and the routines that enable paid employment and education, illustrating its central place in the functioning of households and the broader economy.