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 Cumberland (A), accounting for 91.7% (86,028 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (94.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, away from work, which increased by 9,248 people and 10 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cumberland (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cumberland (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cumberland (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Employed
2021 count
86,028
% of total
91.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
86,028
91.7%
+1.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
45,769
% of total
48.8%
Change from 2016
-8.1pp
45,769
48.8%
-8.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
26,119
% of total
27.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
26,119
27.8%
-0.7pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
14,146
% of total
15.1%
Change from 2016
+10.0pp
14,146
15.1%
+10.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
7,816
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
7,816
8.3%
-1.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
4,741
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
4,741
5.1%
-0.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
3,074
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
3,074
3.3%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-810
+1.2pp
Employed full-time
-8,844
-8.1pp
Employed part-time
-1,205
-0.7pp
Employed, away from work
+9,248
+10.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-1,287
-1.2pp
Looking for full-time work
-451
-0.3pp
Looking for part-time work
-840
-0.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Cumberland (A). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 86,028 | 91.7% | 94.9% | 86,838 | 90.5% | 94.0% | -810 | +1.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 45,769 | 48.8% | 55.5% | 54,613 | 56.9% | 61.2% | -8,844 | -8.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 26,119 | 27.8% | 27.7% | 27,324 | 28.5% | 28.2% | -1,205 | -0.7pp |
| Employed, away from work | 14,146 | 15.1% | 11.7% | 4,898 | 5.1% | 4.5% | +9,248 | +10.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 7,816 | 8.3% | 5.1% | 9,103 | 9.5% | 6.0% | -1,287 | -1.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 4,741 | 5.1% | 2.9% | 5,192 | 5.4% | 3.2% | -451 | -0.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 3,074 | 3.3% | 2.1% | 3,914 | 4.1% | 2.9% | -840 | -0.8pp |
| Total labour force | 93,846 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 95,943 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -2,097 | 0.0pp |