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 Fairfield (NSW) (part), accounting for 87.9% (4,458 people). This share was lower than Fairfield (C) (91.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, away from work, which increased by 680 people and 13 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Fairfield (NSW) (part) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Fairfield (NSW) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (NSW) (part), with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Employed
2021 count
4,458
% of total
87.9%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
4,458
87.9%
-2.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,210
% of total
43.6%
Change from 2016
-12.6pp
2,210
43.6%
-12.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,337
% of total
26.4%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
1,337
26.4%
-2.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
911
% of total
18.0%
Change from 2016
+13.0pp
911
18.0%
+13.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
612
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
612
12.1%
+2.3pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
330
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
330
6.5%
+1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
287
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
287
5.7%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+282
-2.2pp
Employed full-time
-396
-12.6pp
Employed part-time
-9
-2.6pp
Employed, away from work
+680
+13.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+157
+2.3pp
Looking for full-time work
+101
+1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
+54
+0.7pp
Data table
Employment status for Fairfield (NSW) (part). 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 | 4,458 | 87.9% | 91.3% | 4,176 | 90.1% | 89.5% | +282 | -2.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,210 | 43.6% | 46.7% | 2,606 | 56.2% | 56.3% | -396 | -12.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,337 | 26.4% | 26.5% | 1,346 | 29.0% | 28.2% | -9 | -2.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 911 | 18.0% | 18.1% | 231 | 5.0% | 5.0% | +680 | +13.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 612 | 12.1% | 8.7% | 455 | 9.8% | 10.5% | +157 | +2.3pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 330 | 6.5% | 5.0% | 229 | 4.9% | 5.5% | +101 | +1.6pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 287 | 5.7% | 3.7% | 233 | 5.0% | 5.0% | +54 | +0.7pp |
| Total labour force | 5,073 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,636 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +437 | 0.0pp |