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 Cairns City, accounting for 92.2% (1,285 people). This share was lower than Cairns (R) (94.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 96 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cairns City - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cairns City in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns City, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Employed
2021 count
1,285
% of total
92.2%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,285
92.2%
+1.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
783
% of total
56.2%
Change from 2016
-5.2pp
783
56.2%
-5.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
421
% of total
30.2%
Change from 2016
+5.2pp
421
30.2%
+5.2pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
73
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
73
5.2%
-0.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
111
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
111
8.0%
-1.0pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
72
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
72
5.2%
-0.5pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
38
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
38
2.7%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+96
+1.1pp
Employed full-time
-18
-5.2pp
Employed part-time
+95
+5.2pp
Employed, away from work
+4
-0.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-7
-1.0pp
Looking for full-time work
-2
-0.5pp
Looking for part-time work
-2
-0.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Cairns City. 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 | 1,285 | 92.2% | 94.3% | 1,189 | 91.1% | 92.3% | +96 | +1.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 783 | 56.2% | 55.1% | 801 | 61.4% | 57.6% | -18 | -5.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 421 | 30.2% | 32.9% | 326 | 25.0% | 29.7% | +95 | +5.2pp |
| Employed, away from work | 73 | 5.2% | 6.2% | 69 | 5.3% | 5.0% | +4 | -0.1pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 111 | 8.0% | 5.7% | 118 | 9.0% | 7.7% | -7 | -1.0pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 72 | 5.2% | 3.2% | 74 | 5.7% | 4.8% | -2 | -0.5pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 38 | 2.7% | 2.5% | 40 | 3.1% | 2.9% | -2 | -0.4pp |
| Total labour force | 1,394 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,305 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +89 | 0.0pp |