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 Brisbane (C), accounting for 95% (662,318 people). This share was higher than Greater Brisbane (94.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 91,863 people and 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Brisbane (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Brisbane (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Brisbane and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brisbane (C), with comparison markers for Greater Brisbane.
Employed
2021 count
662,318
% of total
95.0%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
662,318
95.0%
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
399,647
% of total
57.3%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
399,647
57.3%
-2.0pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
203,093
% of total
29.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
203,093
29.1%
-0.5pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
59,573
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
59,573
8.5%
+4.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
34,829
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
34,829
5.0%
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
18,095
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
18,095
2.6%
-1.0pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
16,731
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
16,731
2.4%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+91,863
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
+36,621
-2.0pp
Employed part-time
+21,771
-0.5pp
Employed, away from work
+33,465
+4.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-6,945
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
-3,998
-1.0pp
Looking for part-time work
-2,950
-0.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Brisbane (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | % | Greater Brisbane% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 662,318 | 95.0% | 94.5% | 570,455 | 93.2% | 92.6% | +91,863 | +1.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 399,647 | 57.3% | 56.7% | 363,026 | 59.3% | 58.8% | +36,621 | -2.0pp |
| Employed part-time | 203,093 | 29.1% | 29.2% | 181,322 | 29.6% | 29.3% | +21,771 | -0.5pp |
| Employed, away from work | 59,573 | 8.5% | 8.7% | 26,108 | 4.3% | 4.6% | +33,465 | +4.2pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 34,829 | 5.0% | 5.5% | 41,774 | 6.8% | 7.4% | -6,945 | -1.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 18,095 | 2.6% | 3.0% | 22,093 | 3.6% | 4.2% | -3,998 | -1.0pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 16,731 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 19,681 | 3.2% | 3.1% | -2,950 | -0.8pp |
| Total labour force | 697,146 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 612,228 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +84,918 | 0.0pp |