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 West Busselton, accounting for 96.2% (3,949 people). This share was lower than Busselton (C) (96.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 3,692 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
West Busselton - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for West Busselton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Busselton (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Busselton, with comparison markers for Busselton (C).
Employed
2021 count
3,949
% of total
96.2%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
3,949
96.2%
+1.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,063
% of total
50.2%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
2,063
50.2%
-3.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,604
% of total
39.1%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
1,604
39.1%
+3.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
285
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
285
6.9%
-1.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
157
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
157
3.8%
-1.0pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
77
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
77
1.9%
-2.9pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
82
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
82
2.0%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+3,692
+1.7pp
Employed full-time
+1,918
-3.1pp
Employed part-time
+1,507
+3.4pp
Employed, away from work
+261
-1.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+144
-1.0pp
Looking for full-time work
+64
-2.9pp
Looking for part-time work
+77
+0.2pp
Data table
Employment status for West 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 | 3,949 | 96.2% | 96.9% | 257 | 94.5% | 94.3% | +3,692 | +1.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,063 | 50.2% | 50.5% | 145 | 53.3% | 50.6% | +1,918 | -3.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,604 | 39.1% | 38.8% | 97 | 35.7% | 37.2% | +1,507 | +3.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 285 | 6.9% | 7.6% | 24 | 8.8% | 6.5% | +261 | -1.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 157 | 3.8% | 3.1% | 13 | 4.8% | 5.7% | +144 | -1.0pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 77 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 13 | 4.8% | 3.5% | +64 | -2.9pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 82 | 2.0% | 1.6% | 5 | 1.8% | 2.3% | +77 | +0.2pp |
| Total labour force | 4,107 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 272 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,835 | 0.0pp |