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 Wantirna South, accounting for 95.1% (10,239 people). This share was lower than Knox (C) (95.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 10,096 people and 1 percentage point.
Section overview
Labour force status
Wantirna South - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Wantirna South in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wantirna South, with comparison markers for Knox (C).
Employed
2021 count
10,239
% of total
95.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
10,239
95.1%
+1.0pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
6,177
% of total
57.4%
Change from 2016
+8.1pp
6,177
57.4%
+8.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
3,489
% of total
32.4%
Change from 2016
-5.8pp
3,489
32.4%
-5.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
578
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
578
5.4%
-3.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
522
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
522
4.8%
+2.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
235
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
235
2.2%
+0.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
289
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
289
2.7%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+10,096
+1.0pp
Employed full-time
+6,102
+8.1pp
Employed part-time
+3,431
-5.8pp
Employed, away from work
+565
-3.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+518
+2.2pp
Looking for full-time work
+232
+0.2pp
Looking for part-time work
+286
+0.7pp
Data table
Employment status for Wantirna South. 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 | 10,239 | 95.1% | 95.6% | 143 | 94.1% | 94.4% | +10,096 | +1.0pp |
| Employed full-time | 6,177 | 57.4% | 57.7% | 75 | 49.3% | 58.4% | +6,102 | +8.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 3,489 | 32.4% | 32.2% | 58 | 38.2% | 31.5% | +3,431 | -5.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 578 | 5.4% | 5.7% | 13 | 8.6% | 4.4% | +565 | -3.2pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 522 | 4.8% | 4.4% | 4 | 2.6% | 5.6% | +518 | +2.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 235 | 2.2% | 2.1% | 3 | 2.0% | 2.9% | +232 | +0.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 289 | 2.7% | 2.3% | 3 | 2.0% | 2.7% | +286 | +0.7pp |
| Total labour force | 10,763 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 152 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +10,611 | 0.0pp |