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 North Melbourne, accounting for 93% (8,321 people). This share was higher than Melbourne (C) (92.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,465 people and 4.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
North Melbourne - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for North Melbourne in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for North Melbourne, with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Employed
2021 count
8,321
% of total
93.0%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
8,321
93.0%
+4.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
5,039
% of total
56.3%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
5,039
56.3%
+1.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
2,777
% of total
31.0%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
2,777
31.0%
+1.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
511
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
511
5.7%
+1.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
628
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
628
7.0%
-4.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
290
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
290
3.2%
-0.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
336
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-3.4pp
336
3.8%
-3.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+1,465
+4.2pp
Employed full-time
+816
+1.6pp
Employed part-time
+508
+1.6pp
Employed, away from work
+147
+1.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-239
-4.2pp
Looking for full-time work
-16
-0.8pp
Looking for part-time work
-219
-3.4pp
Data table
Employment status for North Melbourne. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 8,321 | 93.0% | 92.4% | 6,856 | 88.8% | 89.1% | +1,465 | +4.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 5,039 | 56.3% | 54.2% | 4,223 | 54.7% | 57.2% | +816 | +1.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 2,777 | 31.0% | 31.8% | 2,269 | 29.4% | 27.5% | +508 | +1.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 511 | 5.7% | 6.3% | 364 | 4.7% | 4.3% | +147 | +1.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 628 | 7.0% | 7.6% | 867 | 11.2% | 10.9% | -239 | -4.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 290 | 3.2% | 3.6% | 306 | 4.0% | 3.9% | -16 | -0.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 336 | 3.8% | 4.0% | 555 | 7.2% | 7.0% | -219 | -3.4pp |
| Total labour force | 8,949 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,721 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,228 | 0.0pp |