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 Riverstone, accounting for 94.6% (4,002 people). This share was higher than Blacktown (C) (94.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 3,976 people, while its share fell by 5.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Riverstone - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Riverstone in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Blacktown (C) and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Riverstone, with comparison markers for Blacktown (C).

Riverstone
Blacktown (C)

Employed

2021 count

4,002

% of total

94.6%

Change from 2016

-5.4pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

2,301

% of total

54.4%

Change from 2016

-3.3pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

1,043

% of total

24.7%

Change from 2016

-9.9pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

655

% of total

15.5%

Change from 2016

+15.5pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

225

% of total

5.3%

Change from 2016

+5.3pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

127

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

+3.0pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

97

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

Data table

Employment status for Riverstone. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).

Employment status for Riverstone. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
Employment status for Riverstone. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Blacktown (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Blacktown (C)%Count%Blacktown (C)%Countpp
Employed4,00294.6%94.2%26100.0%92.7%+3,976-5.4pp
Employed full-time2,30154.4%56.2%1557.7%62.7%+2,286-3.3pp
Employed part-time1,04324.7%24.9%934.6%25.3%+1,034-9.9pp
Employed, away from work65515.5%13.0%00.0%4.8%+655+15.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)2255.3%5.8%00.0%7.3%+225+5.3pp
Looking for full-time work1273.0%3.4%00.0%4.1%+127+3.0pp
Looking for part-time work972.3%2.4%00.0%3.2%+97+2.3pp
Total labour force4,229100.0%100.0%26100.0%100.0%+4,2030.0pp