Web Site of the Week: American Time Use Survey
Posted by: Christine Bulson
Since 2003 the Bureau of Labor Statistics has collected information through over 124,000 interviews for the American Time Use Survey. These statistics measure how much time is spent by individuals working, volunteering, socializing, etc. The annual report for 2011, released in June 2012, provided new information on eldercare. With non-paid providers 56% were women and 42% cared for a parent. In addition 23% of the providers were parents of one or more children under 18. Other interesting facts are that on an average day 83% of women and 65% of men spend time doing housework, cooking, lawn care and financial and or household management. Men exercise or participate daily in sports or recreation slightly more than women, 20% for men compared to 17% for women. A surprising statistic is that individals over the age of 15 spend only 15 minutes a day on telephone calls, mail or e-mail.
