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 Sheffield, accounting for 93.1% (570 people). This share was lower than Kentish (M) (94.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 49 people, while its share fell by 0.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Sheffield - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Sheffield in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Kentish (M) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sheffield, with comparison markers for Kentish (M).
Employed
2021 count
570
% of total
93.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
570
93.1%
-0.3pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
301
% of total
49.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
301
49.2%
+2.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
216
% of total
35.3%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
216
35.3%
-3.1pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
56
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
56
9.2%
+1.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
40
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
40
6.5%
+0.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
20
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
20
3.3%
-1.5pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
16
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
16
2.6%
+0.8pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+49
-0.3pp
Employed full-time
+39
+2.2pp
Employed part-time
+2
-3.1pp
Employed, away from work
+13
+1.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+6
+0.4pp
Looking for full-time work
-7
-1.5pp
Looking for part-time work
+6
+0.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Sheffield. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Kentish (M).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Kentish (M)% | Count | % | Kentish (M)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 570 | 93.1% | 94.6% | 521 | 93.4% | 93.2% | +49 | -0.3pp |
| Employed full-time | 301 | 49.2% | 52.6% | 262 | 47.0% | 49.0% | +39 | +2.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 216 | 35.3% | 34.1% | 214 | 38.4% | 36.6% | +2 | -3.1pp |
| Employed, away from work | 56 | 9.2% | 7.9% | 43 | 7.7% | 7.5% | +13 | +1.5pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 40 | 6.5% | 5.4% | 34 | 6.1% | 6.9% | +6 | +0.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 20 | 3.3% | 3.0% | 27 | 4.8% | 4.3% | -7 | -1.5pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 16 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 10 | 1.8% | 2.6% | +6 | +0.8pp |
| Total labour force | 612 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 558 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +54 | 0.0pp |