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 South Gladstone, accounting for 89.3% (1,517 people). This share was lower than Gladstone (R) (92.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,427 people, while its share fell by 10.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
South Gladstone - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for South Gladstone in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for South Gladstone, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).
Employed
2021 count
1,517
% of total
89.3%
Change from 2016
-10.7pp
1,517
89.3%
-10.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
966
% of total
56.9%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
966
56.9%
-4.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
456
% of total
26.8%
Change from 2016
-5.4pp
456
26.8%
-5.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
98
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
98
5.8%
+5.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
181
% of total
10.7%
Change from 2016
+7.4pp
181
10.7%
+7.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
120
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
120
7.1%
+3.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
56
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
56
3.3%
+3.3pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+1,427
-10.7pp
Employed full-time
+911
-4.2pp
Employed part-time
+427
-5.4pp
Employed, away from work
+98
+5.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+178
+7.4pp
Looking for full-time work
+117
+3.8pp
Looking for part-time work
+56
+3.3pp
Data table
Employment status for South Gladstone. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Gladstone (R)% | Count | % | Gladstone (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,517 | 89.3% | 92.6% | 90 | 100.0% | 88.9% | +1,427 | -10.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 966 | 56.9% | 58.1% | 55 | 61.1% | 58.3% | +911 | -4.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 456 | 26.8% | 28.0% | 29 | 32.2% | 25.5% | +427 | -5.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 98 | 5.8% | 6.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.1% | +98 | +5.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 181 | 10.7% | 7.4% | 3 | 3.3% | 11.1% | +178 | +7.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 120 | 7.1% | 4.5% | 3 | 3.3% | 8.2% | +117 | +3.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 56 | 3.3% | 2.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.9% | +56 | +3.3pp |
| Total labour force | 1,699 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 90 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,609 | 0.0pp |