(Australian Associated Press)

WHAT THE LATEST SNAPSHOT OF AUSTRALIAN HOUSEHOLDS REVEALS

* Most common household is a couple with dependent children

* No real change in traditional gender roles despite attitudes becoming more progressive

* More people are renting – those aged 25 to 34 are most likely to rent and those over 55 the least likely

* Average household spending on energy has fallen since 2014, suggesting people are adapting to rising electricity and gas prices

* Use of paid child care is increasing, as are hourly rates and time spent in care, plus the share of income spent on child care

* People born in the 1960s and 1980s have the highest median income

* Australians, especially women, are becoming more educated

* A clear gender divide in financial literacy, with men ahead of women

* Underemployment is a rising feature of the labour market, but for most workers it is short-lived

* Men are more likely than women to hold a driver’s licence

ABOUT THE STUDY

The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey has tracked the same group of Australians – 17,500 people in 9500 households – since 2001.

It is conducted by the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research.