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 Mortdale, accounting for 95.4% (5,424 people). This share was higher than Georges River (A) (94.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,710 people, while its share fell by 0.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Mortdale - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Mortdale in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Georges River (A) and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Mortdale, with comparison markers for Georges River (A).

Mortdale
Georges River (A)

Employed

2021 count

5,424

% of total

95.4%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

3,113

% of total

54.8%

Change from 2016

-3.0pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

1,557

% of total

27.4%

Change from 2016

-6.4pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

751

% of total

13.2%

Change from 2016

+8.5pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

262

% of total

4.6%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

156

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

105

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Employment status for Mortdale. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Georges River (A).

Employment status for Mortdale. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Georges River (A).
Employment status for Mortdale. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Georges River (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Georges River (A)%Count%Georges River (A)%Countpp
Employed5,42495.4%94.8%3,71496.2%93.5%+1,710-0.8pp
Employed full-time3,11354.8%50.8%2,23257.8%58.1%+881-3.0pp
Employed part-time1,55727.4%29.6%1,30533.8%30.8%+252-6.4pp
Employed, away from work75113.2%14.4%1834.7%4.5%+568+8.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)2624.6%5.2%1453.8%6.5%+117+0.8pp
Looking for full-time work1562.7%2.9%741.9%3.2%+82+0.8pp
Looking for part-time work1051.8%2.3%701.8%3.3%+350.0pp
Total labour force5,684100.0%100.0%3,860100.0%100.0%+1,8240.0pp