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 Holdfast Bay (C), accounting for 96.1% (18,522 people). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (94.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,600 people and 1.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Holdfast Bay (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Holdfast Bay (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Holdfast Bay (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.

Holdfast Bay (C)
Greater Adelaide

Employed

2021 count

18,522

% of total

96.1%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

10,540

% of total

54.7%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

7,012

% of total

36.4%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

974

% of total

5.1%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

741

% of total

3.8%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

380

% of total

2.0%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

365

% of total

1.9%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Data table

Employment status for Holdfast Bay (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.

Employment status for Holdfast Bay (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Employment status for Holdfast Bay (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
Employed18,52296.1%94.5%16,92294.4%92.3%+1,600+1.7pp
Employed full-time10,54054.7%54.3%9,80954.7%54.0%+7310.0pp
Employed part-time7,01236.4%35.1%6,24934.9%33.5%+763+1.5pp
Employed, away from work9745.1%5.2%8674.8%4.8%+107+0.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)7413.8%5.5%1,0065.6%7.7%-265-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work3802.0%2.9%5503.1%4.4%-170-1.1pp
Looking for part-time work3651.9%2.6%4522.5%3.3%-87-0.6pp
Total labour force19,265100.0%100.0%17,924100.0%100.0%+1,3410.0pp