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 Cairnlea, accounting for 93.3% (4,701 people). This share was higher than Brimbank (C) (92.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 326 people and 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cairnlea - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cairnlea in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairnlea, with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Employed
2021 count
4,701
% of total
93.3%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
4,701
93.3%
+1.5pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,765
% of total
54.9%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
2,765
54.9%
-1.9pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,579
% of total
31.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,579
31.4%
+1.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
350
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
350
6.9%
+2.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
333
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
333
6.6%
-1.7pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
160
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
160
3.2%
-1.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
173
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
173
3.4%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+326
+1.5pp
Employed full-time
+57
-1.9pp
Employed part-time
+145
+1.3pp
Employed, away from work
+118
+2.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-62
-1.7pp
Looking for full-time work
-50
-1.2pp
Looking for part-time work
-12
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Cairnlea. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brimbank (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | % | Brimbank (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 4,701 | 93.3% | 92.1% | 4,375 | 91.8% | 89.6% | +326 | +1.5pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,765 | 54.9% | 53.3% | 2,708 | 56.8% | 54.3% | +57 | -1.9pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,579 | 31.4% | 31.9% | 1,434 | 30.1% | 30.1% | +145 | +1.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 350 | 6.9% | 6.9% | 232 | 4.9% | 5.3% | +118 | +2.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 333 | 6.6% | 7.9% | 395 | 8.3% | 10.4% | -62 | -1.7pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 160 | 3.2% | 4.3% | 210 | 4.4% | 5.9% | -50 | -1.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 173 | 3.4% | 3.6% | 185 | 3.9% | 4.5% | -12 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 5,036 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,765 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +271 | 0.0pp |