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 Rainbow Flat, accounting for 94.4% (301 people). This share was higher than Mid-Coast (A) (93.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 267 people and 17.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Rainbow Flat - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Rainbow Flat in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mid-Coast (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Rainbow Flat, with comparison markers for Mid-Coast (A).
Employed
2021 count
301
% of total
94.4%
Change from 2016
+17.1pp
301
94.4%
+17.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
160
% of total
50.2%
Change from 2016
+11.6pp
160
50.2%
+11.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
122
% of total
38.2%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
122
38.2%
+1.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
32
% of total
10.0%
Change from 2016
+10.0pp
32
10.0%
+10.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
15
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-13.5pp
15
4.7%
-13.5pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
9
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-10.8pp
9
2.8%
-10.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
6
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
6
1.9%
+1.9pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+267
+17.1pp
Employed full-time
+143
+11.6pp
Employed part-time
+106
+1.8pp
Employed, away from work
+32
+10.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+7
-13.5pp
Looking for full-time work
+3
-10.8pp
Looking for part-time work
+6
+1.9pp
Data table
Employment status for Rainbow Flat. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mid-Coast (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | % | Mid-Coast (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 301 | 94.4% | 93.9% | 34 | 77.3% | 91.0% | +267 | +17.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 160 | 50.2% | 47.9% | 17 | 38.6% | 47.3% | +143 | +11.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 122 | 38.2% | 38.3% | 16 | 36.4% | 37.3% | +106 | +1.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 32 | 10.0% | 7.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.4% | +32 | +10.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 15 | 4.7% | 6.2% | 8 | 18.2% | 9.0% | +7 | -13.5pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 9 | 2.8% | 3.7% | 6 | 13.6% | 5.7% | +3 | -10.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 6 | 1.9% | 2.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.4% | +6 | +1.9pp |
| Total labour force | 319 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 44 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +275 | 0.0pp |