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 Sunshine (Vic.), accounting for 92.2% (4,414 people). This share was similar to Brimbank (C) (92.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 294 people and 3.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Sunshine (Vic.) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Sunshine (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brimbank (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sunshine (Vic.), with comparison markers for Brimbank (C).
Employed
2021 count
4,414
% of total
92.2%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
4,414
92.2%
+3.6pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,489
% of total
52.0%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
2,489
52.0%
+0.5pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,588
% of total
33.2%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,588
33.2%
+1.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
335
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
335
7.0%
+1.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
370
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
370
7.7%
-3.7pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
216
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
216
4.5%
-2.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
152
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
152
3.2%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+294
+3.6pp
Employed full-time
+96
+0.5pp
Employed part-time
+108
+1.4pp
Employed, away from work
+91
+1.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-159
-3.7pp
Looking for full-time work
-103
-2.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-63
-1.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Sunshine (Vic.). 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 | 4,414 | 92.2% | 92.1% | 4,120 | 88.6% | 89.6% | +294 | +3.6pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,489 | 52.0% | 53.3% | 2,393 | 51.5% | 54.3% | +96 | +0.5pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,588 | 33.2% | 31.9% | 1,480 | 31.8% | 30.1% | +108 | +1.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 335 | 7.0% | 6.9% | 244 | 5.2% | 5.3% | +91 | +1.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 370 | 7.7% | 7.9% | 529 | 11.4% | 10.4% | -159 | -3.7pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 216 | 4.5% | 4.3% | 319 | 6.9% | 5.9% | -103 | -2.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 152 | 3.2% | 3.6% | 215 | 4.6% | 4.5% | -63 | -1.4pp |
| Total labour force | 4,787 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,648 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +139 | 0.0pp |