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 Brighton (Qld), accounting for 96.2% (4,914 people). This share was higher than Brisbane (C) (95%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 257 people and 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Brighton (Qld) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Brighton (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brighton (Qld), with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
Employed
2021 count
4,914
% of total
96.2%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
4,914
96.2%
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,950
% of total
57.8%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
2,950
57.8%
-2.9pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,522
% of total
29.8%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
1,522
29.8%
+1.0pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
431
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
431
8.4%
+3.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
192
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
192
3.8%
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
111
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
111
2.2%
-1.1pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
85
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
85
1.7%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+257
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
-45
-2.9pp
Employed part-time
+101
+1.0pp
Employed, away from work
+194
+3.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-84
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
-54
-1.1pp
Looking for part-time work
-29
-0.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Brighton (Qld). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | % | Brisbane (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 4,914 | 96.2% | 95.0% | 4,657 | 94.4% | 93.2% | +257 | +1.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,950 | 57.8% | 57.3% | 2,995 | 60.7% | 59.3% | -45 | -2.9pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,522 | 29.8% | 29.1% | 1,421 | 28.8% | 29.6% | +101 | +1.0pp |
| Employed, away from work | 431 | 8.4% | 8.5% | 237 | 4.8% | 4.3% | +194 | +3.6pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 192 | 3.8% | 5.0% | 276 | 5.6% | 6.8% | -84 | -1.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 111 | 2.2% | 2.6% | 165 | 3.3% | 3.6% | -54 | -1.1pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 85 | 1.7% | 2.4% | 114 | 2.3% | 3.2% | -29 | -0.6pp |
| Total labour force | 5,107 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,935 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +172 | 0.0pp |