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 Boulia (S), accounting for 94.6% (226 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (94.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, away from work, which increased by 11 people and 4.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Boulia (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Boulia (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Labour force status change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Employed

+8

-0.6pp

Employed full-time

+6

-0.7pp

Employed part-time

-10

-4.8pp

Employed, away from work

+11

+4.3pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

-10

-4.6pp

Looking for full-time work

-8

-3.7pp

Looking for part-time work

+3

+1.3pp

Data table

Employment status for Boulia (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Employment status for Boulia (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Employment status for Boulia (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
Employed22694.6%94.8%21895.2%92.2%+8-0.6pp
Employed full-time18276.2%55.0%17676.9%56.6%+6-0.7pp
Employed part-time229.2%31.8%3214.0%30.6%-10-4.8pp
Employed, away from work2410.0%7.9%135.7%5.1%+11+4.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)83.3%5.2%187.9%7.8%-10-4.6pp
Looking for full-time work104.2%2.9%187.9%4.8%-8-3.7pp
Looking for part-time work31.3%2.3%00.0%2.9%+3+1.3pp
Total labour force239100.0%100.0%229100.0%100.0%+100.0pp