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 Bridgewater (Tas.), accounting for 88.3% (1,398 people). This share was lower than Brighton (M) (93.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 331 people and 3.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Bridgewater (Tas.) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Bridgewater (Tas.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brighton (M) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bridgewater (Tas.), with comparison markers for Brighton (M).
Employed
2021 count
1,398
% of total
88.3%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
1,398
88.3%
+3.5pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
719
% of total
45.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
719
45.4%
+0.4pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
572
% of total
36.1%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
572
36.1%
+1.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
112
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
112
7.1%
+1.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
188
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
188
11.9%
-3.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
121
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
121
7.6%
-3.1pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
61
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
61
3.9%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+331
+3.5pp
Employed full-time
+153
+0.4pp
Employed part-time
+136
+1.4pp
Employed, away from work
+46
+1.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-2
-3.2pp
Looking for full-time work
-14
-3.1pp
Looking for part-time work
+7
-0.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Bridgewater (Tas.). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brighton (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brighton (M)% | Count | % | Brighton (M)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,398 | 88.3% | 93.4% | 1,067 | 84.8% | 92.1% | +331 | +3.5pp |
| Employed full-time | 719 | 45.4% | 54.3% | 566 | 45.0% | 54.5% | +153 | +0.4pp |
| Employed part-time | 572 | 36.1% | 32.9% | 436 | 34.7% | 32.0% | +136 | +1.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 112 | 7.1% | 6.2% | 66 | 5.2% | 5.6% | +46 | +1.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 188 | 11.9% | 6.6% | 190 | 15.1% | 8.0% | -2 | -3.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 121 | 7.6% | 3.9% | 135 | 10.7% | 5.2% | -14 | -3.1pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 61 | 3.9% | 2.8% | 54 | 4.3% | 2.7% | +7 | -0.4pp |
| Total labour force | 1,584 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,258 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +326 | 0.0pp |