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 Mount Barker (SA), accounting for 96.3% (9,259 people). This share was similar to Mount Barker (DC) (96.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 2,825 people and 2.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Mount Barker (SA) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Mount Barker (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mount Barker (DC) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mount Barker (SA), with comparison markers for Mount Barker (DC).
Employed
2021 count
9,259
% of total
96.3%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
9,259
96.3%
+2.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
5,368
% of total
55.8%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
5,368
55.8%
+2.8pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
3,343
% of total
34.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,343
34.8%
-0.2pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
548
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
548
5.7%
+0.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
354
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-2.7pp
354
3.7%
-2.7pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
171
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
171
1.8%
-1.5pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
187
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
187
1.9%
-1.1pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+2,825
+2.7pp
Employed full-time
+1,722
+2.8pp
Employed part-time
+936
-0.2pp
Employed, away from work
+170
+0.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-83
-2.7pp
Looking for full-time work
-55
-1.5pp
Looking for part-time work
-22
-1.1pp
Data table
Employment status for Mount Barker (SA). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mount Barker (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mount Barker (DC)% | Count | % | Mount Barker (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 9,259 | 96.3% | 96.4% | 6,434 | 93.6% | 94.8% | +2,825 | +2.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 5,368 | 55.8% | 54.4% | 3,646 | 53.0% | 53.4% | +1,722 | +2.8pp |
| Employed part-time | 3,343 | 34.8% | 36.0% | 2,407 | 35.0% | 35.9% | +936 | -0.2pp |
| Employed, away from work | 548 | 5.7% | 6.0% | 378 | 5.5% | 5.5% | +170 | +0.2pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 354 | 3.7% | 3.6% | 437 | 6.4% | 5.2% | -83 | -2.7pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 171 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 226 | 3.3% | 2.7% | -55 | -1.5pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 187 | 1.9% | 1.9% | 209 | 3.0% | 2.5% | -22 | -1.1pp |
| Total labour force | 9,615 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,874 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,741 | 0.0pp |