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 Petersham, accounting for 95.7% (4,755 people). This share was similar to Inner West (A) (95.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 4,616 people and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Petersham - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Petersham in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Petersham, with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
Employed
2021 count
4,755
% of total
95.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
4,755
95.7%
+0.5pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
3,041
% of total
61.2%
Change from 2016
+16.7pp
3,041
61.2%
+16.7pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,261
% of total
25.4%
Change from 2016
-20.5pp
1,261
25.4%
-20.5pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
456
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
456
9.2%
+3.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
218
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
218
4.4%
-0.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
138
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
138
2.8%
+2.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
82
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
82
1.6%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+4,616
+0.5pp
Employed full-time
+2,976
+16.7pp
Employed part-time
+1,194
-20.5pp
Employed, away from work
+447
+3.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+211
-0.4pp
Looking for full-time work
+138
+2.8pp
Looking for part-time work
+79
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Petersham. 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 | 4,755 | 95.7% | 95.7% | 139 | 95.2% | 95.2% | +4,616 | +0.5pp |
| Employed full-time | 3,041 | 61.2% | 61.4% | 65 | 44.5% | 64.8% | +2,976 | +16.7pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,261 | 25.4% | 25.3% | 67 | 45.9% | 26.2% | +1,194 | -20.5pp |
| Employed, away from work | 456 | 9.2% | 8.9% | 9 | 6.2% | 4.2% | +447 | +3.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 218 | 4.4% | 4.3% | 7 | 4.8% | 4.8% | +211 | -0.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 138 | 2.8% | 2.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.6% | +138 | +2.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 82 | 1.6% | 1.8% | 3 | 2.1% | 2.2% | +79 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 4,971 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 146 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +4,825 | 0.0pp |