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 Barcaldine (R), accounting for 97.8% (1,435 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (94.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed full-time, which decreased by 45 people and 2.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Barcaldine (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Barcaldine (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Barcaldine (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.

Barcaldine (R)
Regional Qld

Employed

2021 count

1,435

% of total

97.8%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

1,011

% of total

68.9%

Change from 2016

-2.2pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

344

% of total

23.4%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

82

% of total

5.6%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

35

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

17

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

17

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Employment status for Barcaldine (R). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Employment status for Barcaldine (R). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Employment status for Barcaldine (R). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
Employed1,43597.8%94.8%1,44797.4%92.2%-12+0.4pp
Employed full-time1,01168.9%55.0%1,05671.1%56.6%-45-2.2pp
Employed part-time34423.4%31.8%31521.2%30.6%+29+2.2pp
Employed, away from work825.6%7.9%734.9%5.1%+9+0.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)352.4%5.2%412.8%7.8%-6-0.4pp
Looking for full-time work171.2%2.9%292.0%4.8%-12-0.8pp
Looking for part-time work171.2%2.3%130.9%2.9%+4+0.3pp
Total labour force1,468100.0%100.0%1,485100.0%100.0%-170.0pp