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 West, accounting for 92.1% (3,711 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (91.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 3,551 people, while its share fell by 0.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Fairfield West - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Fairfield West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield West, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Employed
2021 count
3,711
% of total
92.1%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
3,711
92.1%
-0.9pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,895
% of total
47.0%
Change from 2016
-7.1pp
1,895
47.0%
-7.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,100
% of total
27.3%
Change from 2016
-5.3pp
1,100
27.3%
-5.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
715
% of total
17.7%
Change from 2016
+11.3pp
715
17.7%
+11.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
324
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
324
8.0%
+0.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
166
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
166
4.1%
+1.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
155
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
155
3.8%
+1.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+3,551
-0.9pp
Employed full-time
+1,802
-7.1pp
Employed part-time
+1,044
-5.3pp
Employed, away from work
+704
+11.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+311
+0.4pp
Looking for full-time work
+162
+1.8pp
Looking for part-time work
+151
+1.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Fairfield 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 | 3,711 | 92.1% | 91.3% | 160 | 93.0% | 89.5% | +3,551 | -0.9pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,895 | 47.0% | 46.7% | 93 | 54.1% | 56.3% | +1,802 | -7.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,100 | 27.3% | 26.5% | 56 | 32.6% | 28.2% | +1,044 | -5.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 715 | 17.7% | 18.1% | 11 | 6.4% | 5.0% | +704 | +11.3pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 324 | 8.0% | 8.7% | 13 | 7.6% | 10.5% | +311 | +0.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 166 | 4.1% | 5.0% | 4 | 2.3% | 5.5% | +162 | +1.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 155 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 4 | 2.3% | 5.0% | +151 | +1.5pp |
| Total labour force | 4,030 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 172 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,858 | 0.0pp |