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 St Helena, accounting for 96.9% (1,448 people). This share was higher than Banyule (C) (95.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 111 people, while its share rose by 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Labour force status
St Helena - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for St Helena in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Banyule (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for St Helena, with comparison markers for Banyule (C).
Employed
2021 count
1,448
% of total
96.9%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,448
96.9%
+1.0pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
830
% of total
55.5%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
830
55.5%
-1.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
531
% of total
35.5%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
531
35.5%
+1.7pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
86
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
86
5.8%
+0.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
49
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
49
3.3%
-0.5pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
19
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
19
1.3%
-0.5pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
34
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
34
2.3%
+0.3pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-111
+1.0pp
Employed full-time
-90
-1.1pp
Employed part-time
-19
+1.7pp
Employed, away from work
-5
+0.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-13
-0.5pp
Looking for full-time work
-11
-0.5pp
Looking for part-time work
+1
+0.3pp
Data table
Employment status for St Helena. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Banyule (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | % | Banyule (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,448 | 96.9% | 95.7% | 1,559 | 95.9% | 94.5% | -111 | +1.0pp |
| Employed full-time | 830 | 55.5% | 56.8% | 920 | 56.6% | 57.0% | -90 | -1.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 531 | 35.5% | 32.8% | 550 | 33.8% | 32.9% | -19 | +1.7pp |
| Employed, away from work | 86 | 5.8% | 6.1% | 91 | 5.6% | 4.6% | -5 | +0.2pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 49 | 3.3% | 4.3% | 62 | 3.8% | 5.5% | -13 | -0.5pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 19 | 1.3% | 2.0% | 30 | 1.8% | 2.7% | -11 | -0.5pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 34 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 33 | 2.0% | 2.8% | +1 | +0.3pp |
| Total labour force | 1,495 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,625 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -130 | 0.0pp |