Mumbai: The Time Use Survey 2024, released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, indicates that people in Maharashtra are dedicating more time to work-related tasks, leaving less time for socialising, learning, and personal well-being.
The survey reveals that, on average, individuals in the state are spending 469 minutes per day on work and related responsibilities — significantly above the national average of 440 minutes. This marks an increase from the 2019 figure, which was also 440 minutes for the state.
https://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/press_release/Press_Note_28.03.2025-1.pdf
The report highlights a notable gender imbalance in time allocation. Men spend around 500 minutes daily on employment and related tasks, while women spend 395 minutes. However, the trend flips when it comes to unpaid household duties. Women continue to shoulder a larger share, spending approximately 281 minutes daily on domestic chores like cooking, cleaning, shopping, and pet care — compared to 90 minutes spent by men.
A similar gap exists in unpaid caregiving roles, such as caring for children, the elderly, or other dependents. Women devote 127 minutes on average to these duties, while men contribute 71 minutes.
Interestingly, the time spent on both unpaid domestic and caregiving work has slightly decreased since 2019. The average time spent on domestic tasks dropped from 242 minutes to 239 minutes, while caregiving time fell from 112 minutes to 106 minutes.
The most drastic decline has been seen in time dedicated to volunteer activities, internships, and other unpaid community contributions — falling from 151 minutes to 116 minutes per day.
Learning activities, which include school, tutoring, and informal education, also saw a reduction, dropping from 434 to 415 minutes. Additionally, time spent on socialising — including communication, cultural gatherings, and religious participation — has decreased from 145 minutes in 2019 to 132 minutes in the latest survey.
The only domain showing a slight increase is in recreational and cultural engagement. Time spent on hobbies, sports, and mass media activities rose marginally from 164 minutes to 167 minutes.
Time for self-care, such as sleeping, eating, and hygiene, has also declined, dropping from 715 to 709 minutes per day.
While work commitments are understandable, sidelining personal time can lead to burnout, strained relationships, and declining mental and physical health, according to psychiatrists.
The Time Use Survey offers key data on how people divide their day among various activities — paid work, caregiving, domestic duties, learning, and leisure — and highlights disparities in gender roles and time availability. These insights help shape social and economic policies, particularly those related to gender equality, labour, and well-being.
Countries across the world have embraced time-use surveys to inform policymaking. The United States has conducted them annually since 2003, Australia since 1992, and Canada since 1961, with countries like Germany, Austria, and Israel also participating in similar efforts.