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 Carnarvon (S), accounting for 95.1% (2,279 people). This share was lower than Regional WA (95.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed full-time, which decreased by 95 people and 0.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Carnarvon (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Carnarvon (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Carnarvon (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Employed
2021 count
2,279
% of total
95.1%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
2,279
95.1%
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,494
% of total
62.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
1,494
62.4%
-0.9pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
583
% of total
24.3%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
583
24.3%
+2.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
202
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
202
8.4%
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
115
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
115
4.8%
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
84
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
84
3.5%
-1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
38
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
38
1.6%
+0.2pp
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-65
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
-95
-0.9pp
Employed part-time
+32
+2.4pp
Employed, away from work
-8
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-50
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
-45
-1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
+3
+0.2pp
Data table
Employment status for Carnarvon (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 2,279 | 95.1% | 95.8% | 2,344 | 93.3% | 93.6% | -65 | +1.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,494 | 62.4% | 58.7% | 1,589 | 63.3% | 59.1% | -95 | -0.9pp |
| Employed part-time | 583 | 24.3% | 29.7% | 551 | 21.9% | 27.8% | +32 | +2.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 202 | 8.4% | 7.4% | 210 | 8.4% | 6.7% | -8 | 0.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 115 | 4.8% | 4.2% | 165 | 6.6% | 6.4% | -50 | -1.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 84 | 3.5% | 2.4% | 129 | 5.1% | 4.3% | -45 | -1.6pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 38 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 35 | 1.4% | 2.1% | +3 | +0.2pp |
| Total labour force | 2,396 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,511 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -115 | 0.0pp |