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 Smithfield (Qld), accounting for 95.1% (3,420 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (94.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 628 people and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Smithfield (Qld) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Smithfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Employed
2021 count
3,420
% of total
95.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,420
95.1%
+0.5pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,983
% of total
55.1%
Change from 2016
-4.6pp
1,983
55.1%
-4.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,176
% of total
32.7%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
1,176
32.7%
+1.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
253
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
253
7.0%
+2.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
179
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
179
5.0%
-0.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
79
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
79
2.2%
-1.0pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
97
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
97
2.7%
+0.4pp
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+628
+0.5pp
Employed full-time
+221
-4.6pp
Employed part-time
+265
+1.8pp
Employed, away from work
+133
+2.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+14
-0.6pp
Looking for full-time work
-14
-1.0pp
Looking for part-time work
+28
+0.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Smithfield (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 | 3,420 | 95.1% | 94.3% | 2,792 | 94.6% | 92.3% | +628 | +0.5pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,983 | 55.1% | 55.1% | 1,762 | 59.7% | 57.6% | +221 | -4.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,176 | 32.7% | 32.9% | 911 | 30.9% | 29.7% | +265 | +1.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 253 | 7.0% | 6.2% | 120 | 4.1% | 5.0% | +133 | +2.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 179 | 5.0% | 5.7% | 165 | 5.6% | 7.7% | +14 | -0.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 79 | 2.2% | 3.2% | 93 | 3.2% | 4.8% | -14 | -1.0pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 97 | 2.7% | 2.5% | 69 | 2.3% | 2.9% | +28 | +0.4pp |
| Total labour force | 3,598 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,950 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +648 | 0.0pp |