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 Barkly (R), accounting for 87.9% (1,904 people). This share was lower than Regional NT (91.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Unemployed (Unemployment rate), which decreased by 369 people and 12.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Barkly (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Barkly (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Barkly (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Employed
2021 count
1,904
% of total
87.9%
Change from 2016
+12.7pp
1,904
87.9%
+12.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,398
% of total
64.5%
Change from 2016
+10.5pp
1,398
64.5%
+10.5pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
366
% of total
16.9%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
366
16.9%
+1.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
141
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
141
6.5%
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
259
% of total
12.0%
Change from 2016
-12.9pp
259
12.0%
-12.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
215
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-12.4pp
215
9.9%
-12.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
39
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
39
1.8%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+7
+12.7pp
Employed full-time
+36
+10.5pp
Employed part-time
-24
+1.4pp
Employed, away from work
-2
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-369
-12.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-348
-12.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-21
-0.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Barkly (R). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,904 | 87.9% | 91.1% | 1,897 | 75.2% | 88.1% | +7 | +12.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,398 | 64.5% | 63.3% | 1,362 | 54.0% | 62.4% | +36 | +10.5pp |
| Employed part-time | 366 | 16.9% | 20.6% | 390 | 15.5% | 18.9% | -24 | +1.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 141 | 6.5% | 7.2% | 143 | 5.7% | 6.8% | -2 | +0.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 259 | 12.0% | 8.9% | 628 | 24.9% | 11.9% | -369 | -12.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 215 | 9.9% | 6.2% | 563 | 22.3% | 9.2% | -348 | -12.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 39 | 1.8% | 2.7% | 60 | 2.4% | 2.7% | -21 | -0.6pp |
| Total labour force | 2,167 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,521 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -354 | 0.0pp |