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 Cabramatta West, accounting for 91.2% (2,400 people). This share was similar to Fairfield (C) (91.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed full-time, which decreased by 355 people and 7.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cabramatta West - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cabramatta West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cabramatta West, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Employed
2021 count
2,400
% of total
91.2%
Change from 2016
+3.4pp
2,400
91.2%
+3.4pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,259
% of total
47.8%
Change from 2016
-7.9pp
1,259
47.8%
-7.9pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
722
% of total
27.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
722
27.4%
+0.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
422
% of total
16.0%
Change from 2016
+10.8pp
422
16.0%
+10.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
231
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
-3.3pp
231
8.8%
-3.3pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
138
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
138
5.2%
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
91
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
91
3.5%
-2.0pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-142
+3.4pp
Employed full-time
-355
-7.9pp
Employed part-time
-61
+0.4pp
Employed, away from work
+271
+10.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-119
-3.3pp
Looking for full-time work
-54
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-69
-2.0pp
Data table
Employment status for Cabramatta West. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | % | Fairfield (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 2,400 | 91.2% | 91.3% | 2,542 | 87.8% | 89.5% | -142 | +3.4pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,259 | 47.8% | 46.7% | 1,614 | 55.7% | 56.3% | -355 | -7.9pp |
| Employed part-time | 722 | 27.4% | 26.5% | 783 | 27.0% | 28.2% | -61 | +0.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 422 | 16.0% | 18.1% | 151 | 5.2% | 5.0% | +271 | +10.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 231 | 8.8% | 8.7% | 350 | 12.1% | 10.5% | -119 | -3.3pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 138 | 5.2% | 5.0% | 192 | 6.6% | 5.5% | -54 | -1.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 91 | 3.5% | 3.7% | 160 | 5.5% | 5.0% | -69 | -2.0pp |
| Total labour force | 2,633 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,896 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -263 | 0.0pp |