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 North, accounting for 92.5% (2,604 people). This share was lower than Cairns (R) (94.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed part-time, which increased by 153 people and 4.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cairns North - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cairns North in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns North, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Employed
2021 count
2,604
% of total
92.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
2,604
92.5%
+1.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,503
% of total
53.4%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
1,503
53.4%
-4.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
940
% of total
33.4%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
940
33.4%
+4.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
163
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
163
5.8%
+1.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
206
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
206
7.3%
-1.1pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
130
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
130
4.6%
-0.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
79
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
79
2.8%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+135
+1.1pp
Employed full-time
-64
-4.6pp
Employed part-time
+153
+4.3pp
Employed, away from work
+44
+1.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-21
-1.1pp
Looking for full-time work
-5
-0.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-16
-0.7pp
Data table
Employment status for Cairns North. 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 | 2,604 | 92.5% | 94.3% | 2,469 | 91.4% | 92.3% | +135 | +1.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,503 | 53.4% | 55.1% | 1,567 | 58.0% | 57.6% | -64 | -4.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 940 | 33.4% | 32.9% | 787 | 29.1% | 29.7% | +153 | +4.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 163 | 5.8% | 6.2% | 119 | 4.4% | 5.0% | +44 | +1.4pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 206 | 7.3% | 5.7% | 227 | 8.4% | 7.7% | -21 | -1.1pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 130 | 4.6% | 3.2% | 135 | 5.0% | 4.8% | -5 | -0.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 79 | 2.8% | 2.5% | 95 | 3.5% | 2.9% | -16 | -0.7pp |
| Total labour force | 2,815 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,700 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +115 | 0.0pp |