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 Wetherill Park, accounting for 92.8% (2,178 people). This share was higher than Fairfield (C) (91.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed full-time, which decreased by 545 people and 13.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Wetherill Park - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Wetherill Park in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wetherill Park, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).
Employed
2021 count
2,178
% of total
92.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
2,178
92.8%
-0.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,147
% of total
48.9%
Change from 2016
-13.4pp
1,147
48.9%
-13.4pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
621
% of total
26.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
621
26.5%
+0.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
406
% of total
17.3%
Change from 2016
+12.7pp
406
17.3%
+12.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
169
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
169
7.2%
0.0pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
99
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
99
4.2%
-0.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
74
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
74
3.2%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-344
-0.1pp
Employed full-time
-545
-13.4pp
Employed part-time
-89
+0.4pp
Employed, away from work
+282
+12.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-26
0.0pp
Looking for full-time work
-20
-0.2pp
Looking for part-time work
-7
+0.2pp
Data table
Employment status for Wetherill Park. 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 | 2,178 | 92.8% | 91.3% | 2,522 | 92.9% | 89.5% | -344 | -0.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,147 | 48.9% | 46.7% | 1,692 | 62.3% | 56.3% | -545 | -13.4pp |
| Employed part-time | 621 | 26.5% | 26.5% | 710 | 26.1% | 28.2% | -89 | +0.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 406 | 17.3% | 18.1% | 124 | 4.6% | 5.0% | +282 | +12.7pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 169 | 7.2% | 8.7% | 195 | 7.2% | 10.5% | -26 | 0.0pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 99 | 4.2% | 5.0% | 119 | 4.4% | 5.5% | -20 | -0.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 74 | 3.2% | 3.7% | 81 | 3.0% | 5.0% | -7 | +0.2pp |
| Total labour force | 2,347 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,716 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -369 | 0.0pp |