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 Coober Pedy (DC), accounting for 88.7% (528 people). This share was lower than Regional SA (95.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 115 people and 2.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Coober Pedy (DC) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Coober Pedy (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Coober Pedy (DC), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Employed
2021 count
528
% of total
88.7%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
528
88.7%
-2.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
316
% of total
53.1%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
316
53.1%
-3.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
157
% of total
26.4%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
157
26.4%
+2.2pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
50
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
50
8.4%
-1.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
70
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
70
11.8%
+1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
50
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
50
8.4%
+1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
24
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
24
4.0%
+1.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-115
-2.2pp
Employed full-time
-85
-3.6pp
Employed part-time
-14
+2.2pp
Employed, away from work
-21
-1.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
0
+1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
0
+1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
+7
+1.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Coober Pedy (DC). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 528 | 88.7% | 95.2% | 643 | 90.9% | 93.4% | -115 | -2.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 316 | 53.1% | 53.5% | 401 | 56.7% | 53.8% | -85 | -3.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 157 | 26.4% | 34.9% | 171 | 24.2% | 33.6% | -14 | +2.2pp |
| Employed, away from work | 50 | 8.4% | 6.7% | 71 | 10.0% | 6.0% | -21 | -1.6pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 70 | 11.8% | 4.8% | 70 | 9.9% | 6.6% | 0 | +1.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 50 | 8.4% | 2.8% | 50 | 7.1% | 4.3% | 0 | +1.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 24 | 4.0% | 2.0% | 17 | 2.4% | 2.3% | +7 | +1.6pp |
| Total labour force | 595 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 707 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -112 | 0.0pp |