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 Cumbalum, accounting for 97.9% (1,160 people). This share was higher than Ballina (A) (96.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,157 people, while its share fell by 2.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cumbalum - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cumbalum in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cumbalum, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).
Employed
2021 count
1,160
% of total
97.9%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
1,160
97.9%
-2.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
609
% of total
51.4%
Change from 2016
+51.4pp
609
51.4%
+51.4pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
455
% of total
38.4%
Change from 2016
+38.4pp
455
38.4%
+38.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
93
% of total
7.8%
Change from 2016
+7.8pp
93
7.8%
+7.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
22
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
22
1.9%
+1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
9
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
9
0.8%
+0.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
14
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
14
1.2%
+1.2pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+1,157
-2.1pp
Employed full-time
+609
+51.4pp
Employed part-time
+455
+38.4pp
Employed, away from work
+93
+7.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+22
+1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
+9
+0.8pp
Looking for part-time work
+14
+1.2pp
Data table
Employment status for Cumbalum. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | % | Ballina (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,160 | 97.9% | 96.6% | 3 | 100.0% | 94.1% | +1,157 | -2.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 609 | 51.4% | 49.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 50.6% | +609 | +51.4pp |
| Employed part-time | 455 | 38.4% | 40.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 38.5% | +455 | +38.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 93 | 7.8% | 6.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.1% | +93 | +7.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 22 | 1.9% | 3.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.9% | +22 | +1.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 9 | 0.8% | 1.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.1% | +9 | +0.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 14 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.7% | +14 | +1.2pp |
| Total labour force | 1,185 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,182 | 0.0pp |