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 Brinsmead, accounting for 96% (2,992 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (94.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 2,984 people and 29.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Brinsmead - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Brinsmead in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Brinsmead, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Employed
2021 count
2,992
% of total
96.0%
Change from 2016
+29.3pp
2,992
96.0%
+29.3pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,790
% of total
57.4%
Change from 2016
-9.3pp
1,790
57.4%
-9.3pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,018
% of total
32.6%
Change from 2016
+32.6pp
1,018
32.6%
+32.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
181
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
181
5.8%
+5.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
131
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
131
4.2%
+4.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
70
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
70
2.2%
+2.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
63
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
63
2.0%
+2.0pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+2,984
+29.3pp
Employed full-time
+1,782
-9.3pp
Employed part-time
+1,018
+32.6pp
Employed, away from work
+181
+5.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+131
+4.2pp
Looking for full-time work
+70
+2.2pp
Looking for part-time work
+63
+2.0pp
Data table
Employment status for Brinsmead. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 2,992 | 96.0% | 94.3% | 8 | 66.7% | 92.3% | +2,984 | +29.3pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,790 | 57.4% | 55.1% | 8 | 66.7% | 57.6% | +1,782 | -9.3pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,018 | 32.6% | 32.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 29.7% | +1,018 | +32.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 181 | 5.8% | 6.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.0% | +181 | +5.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 131 | 4.2% | 5.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 7.7% | +131 | +4.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 70 | 2.2% | 3.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.8% | +70 | +2.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 63 | 2.0% | 2.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.9% | +63 | +2.0pp |
| Total labour force | 3,118 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,106 | 0.0pp |