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 Auburn (NSW), accounting for 88.6% (13,300 people). This share was lower than Cumberland (A) (91.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 13,236 people, while its share fell by 11.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Auburn (NSW) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Auburn (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Auburn (NSW), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Employed
2021 count
13,300
% of total
88.6%
Change from 2016
-11.4pp
13,300
88.6%
-11.4pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
5,707
% of total
38.0%
Change from 2016
-29.2pp
5,707
38.0%
-29.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
5,204
% of total
34.7%
Change from 2016
+12.8pp
5,204
34.7%
+12.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
2,392
% of total
15.9%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
2,392
15.9%
+3.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
1,716
% of total
11.4%
Change from 2016
+11.4pp
1,716
11.4%
+11.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
990
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+6.6pp
990
6.6%
+6.6pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
727
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
727
4.8%
+4.8pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+13,236
-11.4pp
Employed full-time
+5,664
-29.2pp
Employed part-time
+5,190
+12.8pp
Employed, away from work
+2,384
+3.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+1,716
+11.4pp
Looking for full-time work
+990
+6.6pp
Looking for part-time work
+727
+4.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Auburn (NSW). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cumberland (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | % | Cumberland (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 13,300 | 88.6% | 91.7% | 64 | 100.0% | 90.5% | +13,236 | -11.4pp |
| Employed full-time | 5,707 | 38.0% | 48.8% | 43 | 67.2% | 56.9% | +5,664 | -29.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 5,204 | 34.7% | 27.8% | 14 | 21.9% | 28.5% | +5,190 | +12.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 2,392 | 15.9% | 15.1% | 8 | 12.5% | 5.1% | +2,384 | +3.4pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 1,716 | 11.4% | 8.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 9.5% | +1,716 | +11.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 990 | 6.6% | 5.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.4% | +990 | +6.6pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 727 | 4.8% | 3.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.1% | +727 | +4.8pp |
| Total labour force | 15,017 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 64 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +14,953 | 0.0pp |