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 Inverell, accounting for 93.8% (7,070 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (95.4%).

Section overview

Labour force status

Inverell - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Inverell in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Inverell, with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Inverell
Regional NSW

Employed

2021 count

7,070

% of total

93.8%

Change from 2016

-

Employed full-time

2021 count

4,251

% of total

56.4%

Change from 2016

-

Employed part-time

2021 count

2,340

% of total

31.1%

Change from 2016

-

Employed, away from work

2021 count

475

% of total

6.3%

Change from 2016

-

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

469

% of total

6.2%

Change from 2016

-

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

298

% of total

4.0%

Change from 2016

-

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

169

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

-

Data table

Employment status for Inverell. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Employment status for Inverell. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Employment status for Inverell. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Employed7,07093.8%95.4%--93.4%--
Employed full-time4,25156.4%54.5%--55.2%--
Employed part-time2,34031.1%33.7%--32.8%--
Employed, away from work4756.3%7.3%--5.4%--
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)4696.2%4.6%--6.6%--
Looking for full-time work2984.0%2.5%--3.9%--
Looking for part-time work1692.2%2.0%--2.7%--
Total labour force7,534100.0%100.0%--100.0%--