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 Longreach (R), accounting for 98.4% (1,914 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (94.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, away from work, which decreased by 45 people and 2.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Longreach (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Longreach (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Longreach (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Employed
2021 count
1,914
% of total
98.4%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
1,914
98.4%
+2.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,357
% of total
69.7%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
1,357
69.7%
+2.0pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
447
% of total
23.0%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
447
23.0%
+1.9pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
106
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
106
5.4%
-2.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
36
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
36
1.8%
-1.7pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
22
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
22
1.1%
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
13
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
13
0.7%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-24
+2.1pp
Employed full-time
-6
+2.0pp
Employed part-time
+23
+1.9pp
Employed, away from work
-45
-2.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-34
-1.7pp
Looking for full-time work
-26
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
-11
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Longreach (R). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,914 | 98.4% | 94.8% | 1,938 | 96.3% | 92.2% | -24 | +2.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,357 | 69.7% | 55.0% | 1,363 | 67.7% | 56.6% | -6 | +2.0pp |
| Employed part-time | 447 | 23.0% | 31.8% | 424 | 21.1% | 30.6% | +23 | +1.9pp |
| Employed, away from work | 106 | 5.4% | 7.9% | 151 | 7.5% | 5.1% | -45 | -2.1pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 36 | 1.8% | 5.2% | 70 | 3.5% | 7.8% | -34 | -1.7pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 22 | 1.1% | 2.9% | 48 | 2.4% | 4.8% | -26 | -1.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 13 | 0.7% | 2.3% | 24 | 1.2% | 2.9% | -11 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 1,946 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,012 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -66 | 0.0pp |