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 Tennant Creek, accounting for 91.7% (1,131 people). This share was higher than Barkly (R) (87.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 26 people and 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Labour force status
Tennant Creek - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Tennant Creek in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Barkly (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Tennant Creek, with comparison markers for Barkly (R).
Employed
2021 count
1,131
% of total
91.7%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,131
91.7%
-1.0pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
853
% of total
69.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
853
69.2%
-0.8pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
190
% of total
15.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
190
15.4%
-0.1pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
83
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
83
6.7%
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
107
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
107
8.7%
+1.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
90
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
90
7.3%
+1.5pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
22
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
22
1.8%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-26
-1.0pp
Employed full-time
-20
-0.8pp
Employed part-time
-4
-0.1pp
Employed, away from work
-1
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+18
+1.6pp
Looking for full-time work
+17
+1.5pp
Looking for part-time work
+9
+0.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Tennant Creek. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Barkly (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Barkly (R)% | Count | % | Barkly (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,131 | 91.7% | 87.9% | 1,157 | 92.7% | 75.2% | -26 | -1.0pp |
| Employed full-time | 853 | 69.2% | 64.5% | 873 | 70.0% | 54.0% | -20 | -0.8pp |
| Employed part-time | 190 | 15.4% | 16.9% | 194 | 15.5% | 15.5% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Employed, away from work | 83 | 6.7% | 6.5% | 84 | 6.7% | 5.7% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 107 | 8.7% | 12.0% | 89 | 7.1% | 24.9% | +18 | +1.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 90 | 7.3% | 9.9% | 73 | 5.8% | 22.3% | +17 | +1.5pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 22 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 13 | 1.0% | 2.4% | +9 | +0.8pp |
| Total labour force | 1,233 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,248 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -15 | 0.0pp |