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 Upper Ferntree Gully (part), accounting for 96.4% (1,815 people). This share was higher than Knox (C) (95.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 3,079 people, while its share rose by 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Upper Ferntree Gully (part) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Upper Ferntree Gully (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Upper Ferntree Gully (part), with comparison markers for Knox (C).
Employed
2021 count
1,815
% of total
96.4%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
1,815
96.4%
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,028
% of total
54.6%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
1,028
54.6%
-2.3pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
647
% of total
34.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
647
34.4%
+0.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
134
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
134
7.1%
+2.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
62
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
62
3.3%
-2.1pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
21
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
21
1.1%
-1.5pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
40
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
40
2.1%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-3,079
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
-1,913
-2.3pp
Employed part-time
-1,091
+0.8pp
Employed, away from work
-82
+2.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-215
-2.1pp
Looking for full-time work
-111
-1.5pp
Looking for part-time work
-108
-0.8pp
Data table
Employment status for Upper Ferntree Gully (part). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,815 | 96.4% | 95.6% | 4,894 | 94.6% | 94.4% | -3,079 | +1.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,028 | 54.6% | 57.7% | 2,941 | 56.9% | 58.4% | -1,913 | -2.3pp |
| Employed part-time | 647 | 34.4% | 32.2% | 1,738 | 33.6% | 31.5% | -1,091 | +0.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 134 | 7.1% | 5.7% | 216 | 4.2% | 4.4% | -82 | +2.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 62 | 3.3% | 4.4% | 277 | 5.4% | 5.6% | -215 | -2.1pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 21 | 1.1% | 2.1% | 132 | 2.6% | 2.9% | -111 | -1.5pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 40 | 2.1% | 2.3% | 148 | 2.9% | 2.7% | -108 | -0.8pp |
| Total labour force | 1,882 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,172 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -3,290 | 0.0pp |