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 Oatley, accounting for 96.8% (5,109 people). This share was higher than Georges River (A) (94.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, away from work, which increased by 395 people and 7.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Oatley - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Oatley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Georges River (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Oatley, with comparison markers for Georges River (A).
Employed
2021 count
5,109
% of total
96.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
5,109
96.8%
+0.9pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
2,889
% of total
54.7%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
2,889
54.7%
-3.9pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,573
% of total
29.8%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
1,573
29.8%
-2.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
647
% of total
12.3%
Change from 2016
+7.6pp
647
12.3%
+7.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
171
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
171
3.2%
-0.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
96
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
96
1.8%
-0.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
74
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
74
1.4%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-63
+0.9pp
Employed full-time
-271
-3.9pp
Employed part-time
-186
-2.8pp
Employed, away from work
+395
+7.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-51
-0.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-11
-0.2pp
Looking for part-time work
-44
-0.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Oatley. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Georges River (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Georges River (A)% | Count | % | Georges River (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 5,109 | 96.8% | 94.8% | 5,172 | 95.9% | 93.5% | -63 | +0.9pp |
| Employed full-time | 2,889 | 54.7% | 50.8% | 3,160 | 58.6% | 58.1% | -271 | -3.9pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,573 | 29.8% | 29.6% | 1,759 | 32.6% | 30.8% | -186 | -2.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 647 | 12.3% | 14.4% | 252 | 4.7% | 4.5% | +395 | +7.6pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 171 | 3.2% | 5.2% | 222 | 4.1% | 6.5% | -51 | -0.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 96 | 1.8% | 2.9% | 107 | 2.0% | 3.2% | -11 | -0.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 74 | 1.4% | 2.3% | 118 | 2.2% | 3.3% | -44 | -0.8pp |
| Total labour force | 5,280 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,393 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -113 | 0.0pp |