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 Guildford (NSW), accounting for 89.4% (6,719 people). This share was lower than Cumberland (A) (91.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 6,612 people, while its share fell by 9.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Guildford (NSW) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Guildford (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cumberland (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Guildford (NSW), with comparison markers for Cumberland (A).
Employed
2021 count
6,719
% of total
89.4%
Change from 2016
-9.7pp
6,719
89.4%
-9.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
3,339
% of total
44.4%
Change from 2016
-18.6pp
3,339
44.4%
-18.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
2,049
% of total
27.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
2,049
27.3%
+2.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
1,323
% of total
17.6%
Change from 2016
+14.8pp
1,323
17.6%
+14.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
796
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
796
10.6%
+2.3pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
525
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
525
7.0%
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
269
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
269
3.6%
+3.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+6,612
-9.7pp
Employed full-time
+3,271
-18.6pp
Employed part-time
+2,022
+2.3pp
Employed, away from work
+1,320
+14.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+787
+2.3pp
Looking for full-time work
+516
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
+269
+3.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Guildford (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 | 6,719 | 89.4% | 91.7% | 107 | 99.1% | 90.5% | +6,612 | -9.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 3,339 | 44.4% | 48.8% | 68 | 63.0% | 56.9% | +3,271 | -18.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 2,049 | 27.3% | 27.8% | 27 | 25.0% | 28.5% | +2,022 | +2.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 1,323 | 17.6% | 15.1% | 3 | 2.8% | 5.1% | +1,320 | +14.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 796 | 10.6% | 8.3% | 9 | 8.3% | 9.5% | +787 | +2.3pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 525 | 7.0% | 5.1% | 9 | 8.3% | 5.4% | +516 | -1.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 269 | 3.6% | 3.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.1% | +269 | +3.6pp |
| Total labour force | 7,512 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 108 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,404 | 0.0pp |