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 Essendon West, accounting for 97.2% (847 people). This share was higher than Moonee Valley (C) (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 809 people and 6.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Essendon West - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Essendon West in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Moonee Valley (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Essendon West, with comparison markers for Moonee Valley (C).
Employed
2021 count
847
% of total
97.2%
Change from 2016
+6.7pp
847
97.2%
+6.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
536
% of total
61.5%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
536
61.5%
+2.0pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
260
% of total
29.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
260
29.9%
-1.1pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
55
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
55
6.3%
-0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
26
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
26
3.0%
-4.1pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
16
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-5.3pp
16
1.8%
-5.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
17
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
17
2.0%
+2.0pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+809
+6.7pp
Employed full-time
+511
+2.0pp
Employed part-time
+247
-1.1pp
Employed, away from work
+52
-0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+23
-4.1pp
Looking for full-time work
+13
-5.3pp
Looking for part-time work
+17
+2.0pp
Data table
Employment status for Essendon West. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Moonee Valley (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Moonee Valley (C)% | Count | % | Moonee Valley (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 847 | 97.2% | 95.4% | 38 | 90.5% | 94.4% | +809 | +6.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 536 | 61.5% | 58.8% | 25 | 59.5% | 59.2% | +511 | +2.0pp |
| Employed part-time | 260 | 29.9% | 30.4% | 13 | 31.0% | 30.4% | +247 | -1.1pp |
| Employed, away from work | 55 | 6.3% | 6.2% | 3 | 7.1% | 4.7% | +52 | -0.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 26 | 3.0% | 4.6% | 3 | 7.1% | 5.7% | +23 | -4.1pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 16 | 1.8% | 2.4% | 3 | 7.1% | 3.0% | +13 | -5.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 17 | 2.0% | 2.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.6% | +17 | +2.0pp |
| Total labour force | 871 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 42 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +829 | 0.0pp |