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 Wakeley, accounting for 92.4% (1,595 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (91.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,564 people, while its share fell by 7.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Wakeley - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Wakeley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Wakeley, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).

Wakeley
Fairfield (C)

Employed

2021 count

1,595

% of total

92.4%

Change from 2016

-7.6pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

857

% of total

49.7%

Change from 2016

-14.8pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

446

% of total

25.8%

Change from 2016

-16.1pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

289

% of total

16.7%

Change from 2016

+16.7pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

133

% of total

7.7%

Change from 2016

+7.7pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

67

% of total

3.9%

Change from 2016

+3.9pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

63

% of total

3.7%

Change from 2016

+3.7pp

Data table

Employment status for Wakeley. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).

Employment status for Wakeley. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Employment status for Wakeley. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Fairfield (C)%Count%Fairfield (C)%Countpp
Employed1,59592.4%91.3%31100.0%89.5%+1,564-7.6pp
Employed full-time85749.7%46.7%2064.5%56.3%+837-14.8pp
Employed part-time44625.8%26.5%1341.9%28.2%+433-16.1pp
Employed, away from work28916.7%18.1%00.0%5.0%+289+16.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)1337.7%8.7%00.0%10.5%+133+7.7pp
Looking for full-time work673.9%5.0%00.0%5.5%+67+3.9pp
Looking for part-time work633.7%3.7%00.0%5.0%+63+3.7pp
Total labour force1,726100.0%100.0%31100.0%100.0%+1,6950.0pp