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 Bellingen (A), accounting for 94.7% (5,365 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 475 people and 2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Bellingen (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Bellingen (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bellingen (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Employed
2021 count
5,365
% of total
94.7%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
5,365
94.7%
+2.0pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,532
% of total
44.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
2,532
44.7%
-0.5pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
2,467
% of total
43.5%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
2,467
43.5%
+1.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
360
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
360
6.4%
+0.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
303
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
303
5.3%
-1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
152
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
152
2.7%
-1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
147
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
147
2.6%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+475
+2.0pp
Employed full-time
+146
-0.5pp
Employed part-time
+257
+1.6pp
Employed, away from work
+58
+0.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-75
-1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-73
-1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
-7
-0.3pp
Data table
Employment status for Bellingen (A). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 5,365 | 94.7% | 95.4% | 4,890 | 92.7% | 93.4% | +475 | +2.0pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,532 | 44.7% | 54.5% | 2,386 | 45.2% | 55.2% | +146 | -0.5pp |
| Employed part-time | 2,467 | 43.5% | 33.7% | 2,210 | 41.9% | 32.8% | +257 | +1.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 360 | 6.4% | 7.3% | 302 | 5.7% | 5.4% | +58 | +0.7pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 303 | 5.3% | 4.6% | 378 | 7.2% | 6.6% | -75 | -1.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 152 | 2.7% | 2.5% | 225 | 4.3% | 3.9% | -73 | -1.6pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 147 | 2.6% | 2.0% | 154 | 2.9% | 2.7% | -7 | -0.3pp |
| Total labour force | 5,667 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,273 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +394 | 0.0pp |