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 Moree Plains (A), accounting for 96.1% (5,199 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 322 people, while its share rose by 2.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Moree Plains (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Moree Plains (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Moree Plains (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Employed
2021 count
5,199
% of total
96.1%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
5,199
96.1%
+2.6pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
3,510
% of total
64.9%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
3,510
64.9%
+1.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,353
% of total
25.0%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
1,353
25.0%
+1.5pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
336
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
336
6.2%
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
209
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
209
3.9%
-2.5pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
145
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
145
2.7%
-1.9pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
61
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
61
1.1%
-0.7pp
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-322
+2.6pp
Employed full-time
-255
+1.1pp
Employed part-time
-35
+1.5pp
Employed, away from work
-31
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-167
-2.5pp
Looking for full-time work
-125
-1.9pp
Looking for part-time work
-47
-0.7pp
Data table
Employment status for Moree Plains (A). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 5,199 | 96.1% | 95.4% | 5,521 | 93.5% | 93.4% | -322 | +2.6pp |
| Employed full-time | 3,510 | 64.9% | 54.5% | 3,765 | 63.8% | 55.2% | -255 | +1.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,353 | 25.0% | 33.7% | 1,388 | 23.5% | 32.8% | -35 | +1.5pp |
| Employed, away from work | 336 | 6.2% | 7.3% | 367 | 6.2% | 5.4% | -31 | 0.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 209 | 3.9% | 4.6% | 376 | 6.4% | 6.6% | -167 | -2.5pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 145 | 2.7% | 2.5% | 270 | 4.6% | 3.9% | -125 | -1.9pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 61 | 1.1% | 2.0% | 108 | 1.8% | 2.7% | -47 | -0.7pp |
| Total labour force | 5,408 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,902 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -494 | 0.0pp |