Employment
Employment status
About this topic
Employment status shows whether people aged 15 years and over are employed full-time or part-time, unemployed, or not in the labour force. It is one of the main Census indicators of labour market participation and economic engagement.
This topic is useful for understanding workforce participation, unemployment, and the broader socio-economic profile of an area. Results from 2021 should be read carefully because COVID-19 restrictions increased the number of people who were employed but away from work around Census time.
Interpretation notes
- Labour force status is based on the week before Census night for people aged 15 years and over.
- In 2021, lockdown instructions could shift more people into 'employed, away from work', so over-time comparisons need care.
- The 'away from work' group also includes people who reported having a job but did not state hours worked.
Key insight
In 2021, Employed was the most common category among residents aged 15 and over in Adelaide, accounting for 89.5% (9,124 people). This share was lower than Adelaide (C) (90.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 3,152 people and 3.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Adelaide - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Adelaide in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Adelaide (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide, with comparison markers for Adelaide (C).
Employed
2021 count
9,124
% of total
89.5%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
9,124
89.5%
+3.4pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
5,200
% of total
51.0%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
5,200
51.0%
-2.3pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
3,485
% of total
34.2%
Change from 2016
+5.7pp
3,485
34.2%
+5.7pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
438
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
438
4.3%
-0.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
1,069
% of total
10.5%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
1,069
10.5%
-3.3pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
472
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
472
4.6%
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
594
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
594
5.8%
-2.2pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+3,152
+3.4pp
Employed full-time
+1,506
-2.3pp
Employed part-time
+1,511
+5.7pp
Employed, away from work
+136
-0.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+110
-3.3pp
Looking for full-time work
+65
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
+37
-2.2pp
Data table
Employment status for Adelaide. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Adelaide (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 9,124 | 89.5% | 90.7% | 5,972 | 86.1% | 88.0% | +3,152 | +3.4pp |
| Employed full-time | 5,200 | 51.0% | 51.8% | 3,694 | 53.3% | 53.6% | +1,506 | -2.3pp |
| Employed part-time | 3,485 | 34.2% | 34.3% | 1,974 | 28.5% | 29.6% | +1,511 | +5.7pp |
| Employed, away from work | 438 | 4.3% | 4.7% | 302 | 4.4% | 4.7% | +136 | -0.1pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 1,069 | 10.5% | 9.3% | 959 | 13.8% | 11.9% | +110 | -3.3pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 472 | 4.6% | 4.0% | 407 | 5.9% | 4.9% | +65 | -1.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 594 | 5.8% | 5.3% | 557 | 8.0% | 7.0% | +37 | -2.2pp |
| Total labour force | 10,193 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,935 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,258 | 0.0pp |