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 Busselton, accounting for 94.3% (731 people). This share was lower than Busselton (C) (96.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 5,168 people, while its share rose by 3.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Busselton - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Busselton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Busselton (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Busselton, with comparison markers for Busselton (C).
Employed
2021 count
731
% of total
94.3%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
731
94.3%
+3.9pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
385
% of total
49.7%
Change from 2016
-7.2pp
385
49.7%
-7.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
301
% of total
38.8%
Change from 2016
+10.6pp
301
38.8%
+10.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
47
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
47
6.1%
+0.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
46
% of total
5.9%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
46
5.9%
-3.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
28
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
28
3.6%
-1.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
20
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
20
2.6%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-5,168
+3.9pp
Employed full-time
-3,323
-7.2pp
Employed part-time
-1,538
+10.6pp
Employed, away from work
-311
+0.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-574
-3.6pp
Looking for full-time work
-326
-1.8pp
Looking for part-time work
-243
-1.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Busselton. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Busselton (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Busselton (C)% | Count | % | Busselton (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 731 | 94.3% | 96.9% | 5,899 | 90.4% | 94.3% | -5,168 | +3.9pp |
| Employed full-time | 385 | 49.7% | 50.5% | 3,708 | 56.9% | 50.6% | -3,323 | -7.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 301 | 38.8% | 38.8% | 1,839 | 28.2% | 37.2% | -1,538 | +10.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 47 | 6.1% | 7.6% | 358 | 5.5% | 6.5% | -311 | +0.6pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 46 | 5.9% | 3.1% | 620 | 9.5% | 5.7% | -574 | -3.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 28 | 3.6% | 1.4% | 354 | 5.4% | 3.5% | -326 | -1.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 20 | 2.6% | 1.6% | 263 | 4.0% | 2.3% | -243 | -1.4pp |
| Total labour force | 775 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,522 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -5,747 | 0.0pp |