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 Glen Eira (C), accounting for 95.8% (79,628 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (94.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 9,994 people and 1.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Glen Eira (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Glen Eira (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Chart view
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Glen Eira (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Employed
2021 count
79,628
% of total
95.8%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
79,628
95.8%
+1.6pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
48,129
% of total
57.9%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
48,129
57.9%
-0.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
26,876
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
26,876
32.3%
+0.1pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
4,615
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
4,615
5.6%
+1.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
3,520
% of total
4.2%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
3,520
4.2%
-1.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
1,698
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,698
2.0%
-0.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
1,822
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,822
2.2%
-0.8pp
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+9,994
+1.6pp
Employed full-time
+5,266
-0.1pp
Employed part-time
+3,109
+0.1pp
Employed, away from work
+1,606
+1.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-758
-1.6pp
Looking for full-time work
-363
-0.8pp
Looking for part-time work
-398
-0.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Glen Eira (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 79,628 | 95.8% | 94.7% | 69,634 | 94.2% | 93.2% | +9,994 | +1.6pp |
| Employed full-time | 48,129 | 57.9% | 56.9% | 42,863 | 58.0% | 58.0% | +5,266 | -0.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 26,876 | 32.3% | 31.6% | 23,767 | 32.2% | 30.6% | +3,109 | +0.1pp |
| Employed, away from work | 4,615 | 5.6% | 6.2% | 3,009 | 4.1% | 4.6% | +1,606 | +1.5pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 3,520 | 4.2% | 5.3% | 4,278 | 5.8% | 6.8% | -758 | -1.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 1,698 | 2.0% | 2.7% | 2,061 | 2.8% | 3.5% | -363 | -0.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 1,822 | 2.2% | 2.6% | 2,220 | 3.0% | 3.3% | -398 | -0.8pp |
| Total labour force | 83,148 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 73,909 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +9,239 | 0.0pp |