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 Plumpton (NSW), accounting for 94.3% (4,501 people). This share was similar to Blacktown (C) (94.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, away from work, which increased by 377 people and 7.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Plumpton (NSW) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Plumpton (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Plumpton (NSW), with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).
Employed
2021 count
4,501
% of total
94.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
4,501
94.3%
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,746
% of total
57.5%
Change from 2016
-7.0pp
2,746
57.5%
-7.0pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,164
% of total
24.4%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,164
24.4%
+1.0pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
592
% of total
12.4%
Change from 2016
+7.7pp
592
12.4%
+7.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
270
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
270
5.7%
-1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
164
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
164
3.4%
-0.6pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
113
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
113
2.4%
-1.1pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+228
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
-234
-7.0pp
Employed part-time
+83
+1.0pp
Employed, away from work
+377
+7.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-81
-1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-23
-0.6pp
Looking for part-time work
-49
-1.1pp
Data table
Employment status for Plumpton (NSW). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | % | Blacktown (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 4,501 | 94.3% | 94.2% | 4,273 | 92.5% | 92.7% | +228 | +1.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,746 | 57.5% | 56.2% | 2,980 | 64.5% | 62.7% | -234 | -7.0pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,164 | 24.4% | 24.9% | 1,081 | 23.4% | 25.3% | +83 | +1.0pp |
| Employed, away from work | 592 | 12.4% | 13.0% | 215 | 4.7% | 4.8% | +377 | +7.7pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 270 | 5.7% | 5.8% | 351 | 7.6% | 7.3% | -81 | -1.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 164 | 3.4% | 3.4% | 187 | 4.0% | 4.1% | -23 | -0.6pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 113 | 2.4% | 2.4% | 162 | 3.5% | 3.2% | -49 | -1.1pp |
| Total labour force | 4,772 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,619 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +153 | 0.0pp |