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 Edge Hill, accounting for 95% (2,098 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (94.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 2,077 people and 20 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Edge Hill - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Edge Hill in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Edge Hill, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).

Edge Hill
Cairns (R)

Employed

2021 count

2,098

% of total

95.0%

Change from 2016

+20.0pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

1,248

% of total

56.5%

Change from 2016

-4.2pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

717

% of total

32.5%

Change from 2016

+21.8pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

127

% of total

5.8%

Change from 2016

+5.8pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

107

% of total

4.8%

Change from 2016

+4.8pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

57

% of total

2.6%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

51

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

Data table

Employment status for Edge Hill. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).

Employment status for Edge Hill. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
Employment status for Edge Hill. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Cairns (R)%Count%Cairns (R)%Countpp
Employed2,09895.0%94.3%2175.0%92.3%+2,077+20.0pp
Employed full-time1,24856.5%55.1%1760.7%57.6%+1,231-4.2pp
Employed part-time71732.5%32.9%310.7%29.7%+714+21.8pp
Employed, away from work1275.8%6.2%00.0%5.0%+127+5.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)1074.8%5.7%00.0%7.7%+107+4.8pp
Looking for full-time work572.6%3.2%00.0%4.8%+57+2.6pp
Looking for part-time work512.3%2.5%00.0%2.9%+51+2.3pp
Total labour force2,208100.0%100.0%28100.0%100.0%+2,1800.0pp