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 Metford, accounting for 93.1% (2,162 people). This share was lower than Maitland (C) (95.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 205 people and 3.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Metford - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Metford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Metford, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
Employed
2021 count
2,162
% of total
93.1%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
2,162
93.1%
+3.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,301
% of total
56.0%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
1,301
56.0%
+1.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
695
% of total
29.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
695
29.9%
-0.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
170
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
170
7.3%
+2.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
161
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
161
6.9%
-2.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
87
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
87
3.7%
-1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
71
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
71
3.1%
-1.3pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+205
+3.2pp
Employed full-time
+106
+1.1pp
Employed part-time
+37
-0.3pp
Employed, away from work
+60
+2.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-52
-2.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-29
-1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
-24
-1.3pp
Data table
Employment status for Metford. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Maitland (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | % | Maitland (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 2,162 | 93.1% | 95.3% | 1,957 | 89.9% | 92.7% | +205 | +3.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,301 | 56.0% | 57.0% | 1,195 | 54.9% | 57.3% | +106 | +1.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 695 | 29.9% | 31.4% | 658 | 30.2% | 30.6% | +37 | -0.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 170 | 7.3% | 6.9% | 110 | 5.1% | 4.8% | +60 | +2.2pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 161 | 6.9% | 4.7% | 213 | 9.8% | 7.3% | -52 | -2.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 87 | 3.7% | 2.6% | 116 | 5.3% | 4.3% | -29 | -1.6pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 71 | 3.1% | 2.1% | 95 | 4.4% | 3.0% | -24 | -1.3pp |
| Total labour force | 2,322 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,176 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +146 | 0.0pp |