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 Lewisham (NSW), accounting for 96.7% (2,425 people). This share was higher than Inner West (A) (95.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 672 people and 2.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Lewisham (NSW) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Lewisham (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lewisham (NSW), with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
Employed
2021 count
2,425
% of total
96.7%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
2,425
96.7%
+2.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,612
% of total
64.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,612
64.3%
-0.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
600
% of total
23.9%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
600
23.9%
-1.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
214
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
214
8.5%
+4.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
91
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
91
3.6%
-2.5pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
49
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
49
2.0%
-1.1pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
36
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
36
1.4%
-1.8pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+672
+2.7pp
Employed full-time
+410
-0.2pp
Employed part-time
+130
-1.3pp
Employed, away from work
+137
+4.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-23
-2.5pp
Looking for full-time work
-8
-1.1pp
Looking for part-time work
-24
-1.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Lewisham (NSW). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 2,425 | 96.7% | 95.7% | 1,753 | 94.0% | 95.2% | +672 | +2.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,612 | 64.3% | 61.4% | 1,202 | 64.5% | 64.8% | +410 | -0.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 600 | 23.9% | 25.3% | 470 | 25.2% | 26.2% | +130 | -1.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 214 | 8.5% | 8.9% | 77 | 4.1% | 4.2% | +137 | +4.4pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 91 | 3.6% | 4.3% | 114 | 6.1% | 4.8% | -23 | -2.5pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 49 | 2.0% | 2.5% | 57 | 3.1% | 2.6% | -8 | -1.1pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 36 | 1.4% | 1.8% | 60 | 3.2% | 2.2% | -24 | -1.8pp |
| Total labour force | 2,507 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,865 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +642 | 0.0pp |