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 South Wharf, accounting for 112.5% (36 people). This share was higher than Melbourne (C) (92.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed part-time, which increased by 7 people and 23.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

South Wharf - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for South Wharf in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Wharf, with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).

South Wharf
Melbourne (C)

Employed

2021 count

36

% of total

112.5%

Change from 2016

+18.1pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

25

% of total

78.1%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

12

% of total

37.5%

Change from 2016

+23.6pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Employment status for South Wharf. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).

Employment status for South Wharf. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
Employment status for South Wharf. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Melbourne (C)%Count%Melbourne (C)%Countpp
Employed36112.5%92.4%3494.4%89.1%+2+18.1pp
Employed full-time2578.1%54.2%2877.8%57.2%-3+0.3pp
Employed part-time1237.5%31.8%513.9%27.5%+7+23.6pp
Employed, away from work00.0%6.3%00.0%4.3%00.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)00.0%7.6%00.0%10.9%00.0pp
Looking for full-time work00.0%3.6%00.0%3.9%00.0pp
Looking for part-time work00.0%4.0%00.0%7.0%00.0pp
Total labour force32100.0%100.0%36100.0%100.0%-40.0pp