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 Cobden, accounting for 96.9% (784 people). This share was lower than Corangamite (S) (97.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 768 people, while its share fell by 3.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cobden - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cobden in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Corangamite (S) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cobden, with comparison markers for Corangamite (S).
Employed
2021 count
784
% of total
96.9%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
784
96.9%
-3.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
440
% of total
54.4%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
440
54.4%
-1.9pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
273
% of total
33.7%
Change from 2016
-16.3pp
273
33.7%
-16.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
65
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+8.0pp
65
8.0%
+8.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
26
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
26
3.2%
+3.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
7
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
7
0.9%
+0.9pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
16
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
16
2.0%
+2.0pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+768
-3.1pp
Employed full-time
+431
-1.9pp
Employed part-time
+265
-16.3pp
Employed, away from work
+65
+8.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+26
+3.2pp
Looking for full-time work
+7
+0.9pp
Looking for part-time work
+16
+2.0pp
Data table
Employment status for Cobden. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Corangamite (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Corangamite (S)% | Count | % | Corangamite (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 784 | 96.9% | 97.4% | 16 | 100.0% | 96.1% | +768 | -3.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 440 | 54.4% | 56.1% | 9 | 56.3% | 57.2% | +431 | -1.9pp |
| Employed part-time | 273 | 33.7% | 33.5% | 8 | 50.0% | 31.9% | +265 | -16.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 65 | 8.0% | 7.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.9% | +65 | +8.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 26 | 3.2% | 2.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.0% | +26 | +3.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 7 | 0.9% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.7% | +7 | +0.9pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 16 | 2.0% | 1.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.3% | +16 | +2.0pp |
| Total labour force | 809 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 16 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +793 | 0.0pp |