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 East Mackay, accounting for 96.2% (1,822 people). This share was higher than Mackay (R) (96%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 214 people and 5.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
East Mackay - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for East Mackay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for East Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Employed
2021 count
1,822
% of total
96.2%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
1,822
96.2%
+5.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,214
% of total
64.1%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
1,214
64.1%
+4.8pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
512
% of total
27.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
512
27.0%
-0.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
96
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
96
5.1%
+0.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
71
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-5.4pp
71
3.7%
-5.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
39
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
39
2.1%
-4.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
30
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
30
1.6%
-0.9pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+214
+5.1pp
Employed full-time
+167
+4.8pp
Employed part-time
+30
-0.3pp
Employed, away from work
+21
+0.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-89
-5.4pp
Looking for full-time work
-75
-4.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-14
-0.9pp
Data table
Employment status for East Mackay. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,822 | 96.2% | 96.0% | 1,608 | 91.1% | 91.4% | +214 | +5.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,214 | 64.1% | 62.2% | 1,047 | 59.3% | 59.5% | +167 | +4.8pp |
| Employed part-time | 512 | 27.0% | 27.5% | 482 | 27.3% | 26.4% | +30 | -0.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 96 | 5.1% | 6.3% | 75 | 4.2% | 5.4% | +21 | +0.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 71 | 3.7% | 4.0% | 160 | 9.1% | 8.6% | -89 | -5.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 39 | 2.1% | 2.3% | 114 | 6.5% | 5.7% | -75 | -4.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 30 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 44 | 2.5% | 2.9% | -14 | -0.9pp |
| Total labour force | 1,894 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,766 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +128 | 0.0pp |