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 Nickol, accounting for 96.4% (2,419 people). This share was lower than Karratha (C) (97.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 2,400 people, while its share fell by 3.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Nickol - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Nickol in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Karratha (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Nickol, with comparison markers for Karratha (C).
Employed
2021 count
2,419
% of total
96.4%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
2,419
96.4%
-3.6pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,668
% of total
66.5%
Change from 2016
-17.7pp
1,668
66.5%
-17.7pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
543
% of total
21.6%
Change from 2016
-25.8pp
543
21.6%
-25.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
209
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+8.3pp
209
8.3%
+8.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
90
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
90
3.6%
+3.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
57
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
57
2.3%
+2.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
40
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
40
1.6%
+1.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+2,400
-3.6pp
Employed full-time
+1,652
-17.7pp
Employed part-time
+534
-25.8pp
Employed, away from work
+209
+8.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+90
+3.6pp
Looking for full-time work
+57
+2.3pp
Looking for part-time work
+40
+1.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Nickol. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Karratha (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Karratha (C)% | Count | % | Karratha (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 2,419 | 96.4% | 97.1% | 19 | 100.0% | 94.0% | +2,400 | -3.6pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,668 | 66.5% | 69.1% | 16 | 84.2% | 69.4% | +1,652 | -17.7pp |
| Employed part-time | 543 | 21.6% | 20.4% | 9 | 47.4% | 17.9% | +534 | -25.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 209 | 8.3% | 7.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.7% | +209 | +8.3pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 90 | 3.6% | 2.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.0% | +90 | +3.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 57 | 2.3% | 1.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.3% | +57 | +2.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 40 | 1.6% | 1.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.7% | +40 | +1.6pp |
| Total labour force | 2,509 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 19 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,490 | 0.0pp |