New research out of Australia has revealed the cost of unpaid household labour - and it's a high figure not recognised in economics statistics.

These tasks - including cooking, cleaning and caring for family members -are reportedly worth about A$688 billion, according to new reports. 

Canberra University economics professor Leonora Risse says many of these tasks are essential services, and most of these are carried out by women.

"If we're not recognising it, then what we're doing is we're not recognising women's overall contribution to the economy - the productive activities that hold our economy together. So it's about shining a spotlight on it."

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