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 Greater Geelong (C), accounting for 95.6% (129,587 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (95.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 26,007 people and 2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Greater Geelong (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Greater Geelong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Greater Geelong (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Employed
2021 count
129,587
% of total
95.6%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
129,587
95.6%
+2.0pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
71,968
% of total
53.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
71,968
53.1%
-0.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
48,392
% of total
35.7%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
48,392
35.7%
+0.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
9,232
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
9,232
6.8%
+1.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
5,988
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
5,988
4.4%
-2.0pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
2,964
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
2,964
2.2%
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
3,023
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
3,023
2.2%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+26,007
+2.0pp
Employed full-time
+12,969
-0.2pp
Employed part-time
+9,762
+0.8pp
Employed, away from work
+3,283
+1.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-1,069
-2.0pp
Looking for full-time work
-893
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
-176
-0.7pp
Data table
Employment status for Greater Geelong (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 129,587 | 95.6% | 95.9% | 103,580 | 93.6% | 94.0% | +26,007 | +2.0pp |
| Employed full-time | 71,968 | 53.1% | 53.6% | 58,999 | 53.3% | 53.8% | +12,969 | -0.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 48,392 | 35.7% | 34.9% | 38,630 | 34.9% | 34.2% | +9,762 | +0.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 9,232 | 6.8% | 7.3% | 5,949 | 5.4% | 6.1% | +3,283 | +1.4pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 5,988 | 4.4% | 4.1% | 7,057 | 6.4% | 6.0% | -1,069 | -2.0pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 2,964 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 3,857 | 3.5% | 3.5% | -893 | -1.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 3,023 | 2.2% | 1.9% | 3,199 | 2.9% | 2.5% | -176 | -0.7pp |
| Total labour force | 135,579 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 110,631 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +24,948 | 0.0pp |