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 Morpeth, accounting for 96.3% (622 people). This share was higher than Maitland (C) (95.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 13,377 people, while its share rose by 0.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Morpeth - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Morpeth in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Maitland (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Morpeth, with comparison markers for Maitland (C).
Employed
2021 count
622
% of total
96.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
622
96.3%
+0.3pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
331
% of total
51.2%
Change from 2016
-12.6pp
331
51.2%
-12.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
232
% of total
35.9%
Change from 2016
+7.6pp
232
35.9%
+7.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
53
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
53
8.2%
+4.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
28
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
28
4.3%
+0.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
17
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
17
2.6%
+0.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
12
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
12
1.9%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-13,377
+0.3pp
Employed full-time
-8,966
-12.6pp
Employed part-time
-3,892
+7.6pp
Employed, away from work
-528
+4.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-539
+0.4pp
Looking for full-time work
-301
+0.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-245
+0.1pp
Data table
Employment status for Morpeth. 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 | 622 | 96.3% | 95.3% | 13,999 | 96.0% | 92.7% | -13,377 | +0.3pp |
| Employed full-time | 331 | 51.2% | 57.0% | 9,297 | 63.8% | 57.3% | -8,966 | -12.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 232 | 35.9% | 31.4% | 4,124 | 28.3% | 30.6% | -3,892 | +7.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 53 | 8.2% | 6.9% | 581 | 4.0% | 4.8% | -528 | +4.2pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 28 | 4.3% | 4.7% | 567 | 3.9% | 7.3% | -539 | +0.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 17 | 2.6% | 2.6% | 318 | 2.2% | 4.3% | -301 | +0.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 12 | 1.9% | 2.1% | 257 | 1.8% | 3.0% | -245 | +0.1pp |
| Total labour force | 646 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 14,575 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -13,929 | 0.0pp |