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 Mount Sheridan (Qld), accounting for 95.5% (4,508 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (94.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 379 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Mount Sheridan (Qld) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Mount Sheridan (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Sheridan (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Employed
2021 count
4,508
% of total
95.5%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
4,508
95.5%
+1.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,673
% of total
56.6%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
2,673
56.6%
-3.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,545
% of total
32.7%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
1,545
32.7%
+3.1pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
288
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
288
6.1%
+1.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
210
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
210
4.4%
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
103
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
103
2.2%
-1.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
106
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
106
2.2%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+379
+1.7pp
Employed full-time
+46
-3.1pp
Employed part-time
+243
+3.1pp
Employed, away from work
+93
+1.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-62
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
-48
-1.2pp
Looking for part-time work
-16
-0.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Mount Sheridan (Qld). 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 | 4,508 | 95.5% | 94.3% | 4,129 | 93.8% | 92.3% | +379 | +1.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,673 | 56.6% | 55.1% | 2,627 | 59.7% | 57.6% | +46 | -3.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,545 | 32.7% | 32.9% | 1,302 | 29.6% | 29.7% | +243 | +3.1pp |
| Employed, away from work | 288 | 6.1% | 6.2% | 195 | 4.4% | 5.0% | +93 | +1.7pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 210 | 4.4% | 5.7% | 272 | 6.2% | 7.7% | -62 | -1.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 103 | 2.2% | 3.2% | 151 | 3.4% | 4.8% | -48 | -1.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 106 | 2.2% | 2.5% | 122 | 2.8% | 2.9% | -16 | -0.6pp |
| Total labour force | 4,720 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,401 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +319 | 0.0pp |