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 Plains, accounting for 95.8% (4,851 people). This share was higher than Regional SA (95.2%).
Section overview
Labour force status
Adelaide Plains - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Adelaide Plains in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide Plains, with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Employed
2021 count
4,851
% of total
95.8%
Change from 2016
-
4,851
95.8%
-
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,939
% of total
58.0%
Change from 2016
-
2,939
58.0%
-
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,581
% of total
31.2%
Change from 2016
-
1,581
31.2%
-
Employed, away from work
2021 count
325
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-
325
6.4%
-
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
215
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-
215
4.2%
-
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
125
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-
125
2.5%
-
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
90
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-
90
1.8%
-
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Data table
Employment status for Adelaide Plains. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 4,851 | 95.8% | 95.2% | - | - | 93.4% | - | - |
| Employed full-time | 2,939 | 58.0% | 53.5% | - | - | 53.8% | - | - |
| Employed part-time | 1,581 | 31.2% | 34.9% | - | - | 33.6% | - | - |
| Employed, away from work | 325 | 6.4% | 6.7% | - | - | 6.0% | - | - |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 215 | 4.2% | 4.8% | - | - | 6.6% | - | - |
| Looking for full-time work | 125 | 2.5% | 2.8% | - | - | 4.3% | - | - |
| Looking for part-time work | 90 | 1.8% | 2.0% | - | - | 2.3% | - | - |
| Total labour force | 5,065 | 100.0% | 100.0% | - | - | 100.0% | - | - |