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 Eight Mile Plains, accounting for 93.8% (7,412 people). This share was lower than Brisbane (C) (95%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, away from work, which increased by 313 people and 3.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Eight Mile Plains - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Eight Mile Plains in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Brisbane (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Eight Mile Plains, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).
Employed
2021 count
7,412
% of total
93.8%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
7,412
93.8%
+2.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
4,259
% of total
53.9%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
4,259
53.9%
-2.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
2,520
% of total
31.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,520
31.9%
+0.1pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
626
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
626
7.9%
+3.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
486
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
486
6.2%
-2.0pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
234
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
234
3.0%
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
258
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
258
3.3%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+242
+2.1pp
Employed full-time
-116
-2.1pp
Employed part-time
+34
+0.1pp
Employed, away from work
+313
+3.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-156
-2.0pp
Looking for full-time work
-110
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-43
-0.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Eight Mile Plains. 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 | 7,412 | 93.8% | 95.0% | 7,170 | 91.7% | 93.2% | +242 | +2.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 4,259 | 53.9% | 57.3% | 4,375 | 56.0% | 59.3% | -116 | -2.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 2,520 | 31.9% | 29.1% | 2,486 | 31.8% | 29.6% | +34 | +0.1pp |
| Employed, away from work | 626 | 7.9% | 8.5% | 313 | 4.0% | 4.3% | +313 | +3.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 486 | 6.2% | 5.0% | 642 | 8.2% | 6.8% | -156 | -2.0pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 234 | 3.0% | 2.6% | 344 | 4.4% | 3.6% | -110 | -1.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 258 | 3.3% | 2.4% | 301 | 3.9% | 3.2% | -43 | -0.6pp |
| Total labour force | 7,899 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,817 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +82 | 0.0pp |