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 Cook (S), accounting for 94.3% (1,803 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (94.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 96 people and 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cook (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cook (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cook (S), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Employed
2021 count
1,803
% of total
94.3%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,803
94.3%
+1.4pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,142
% of total
59.8%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,142
59.8%
-0.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
475
% of total
24.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
475
24.9%
-1.0pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
192
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+3.5pp
192
10.0%
+3.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
107
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
107
5.6%
-1.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
72
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
72
3.8%
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
36
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
36
1.9%
-0.1pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+96
+1.4pp
Employed full-time
+32
-0.6pp
Employed part-time
-1
-1.0pp
Employed, away from work
+72
+3.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-26
-1.6pp
Looking for full-time work
-23
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
0
-0.1pp
Data table
Employment status for Cook (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,803 | 94.3% | 94.8% | 1,707 | 92.9% | 92.2% | +96 | +1.4pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,142 | 59.8% | 55.0% | 1,110 | 60.4% | 56.6% | +32 | -0.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 475 | 24.9% | 31.8% | 476 | 25.9% | 30.6% | -1 | -1.0pp |
| Employed, away from work | 192 | 10.0% | 7.9% | 120 | 6.5% | 5.1% | +72 | +3.5pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 107 | 5.6% | 5.2% | 133 | 7.2% | 7.8% | -26 | -1.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 72 | 3.8% | 2.9% | 95 | 5.2% | 4.8% | -23 | -1.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 36 | 1.9% | 2.3% | 36 | 2.0% | 2.9% | 0 | -0.1pp |
| Total labour force | 1,911 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,838 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +73 | 0.0pp |