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 Macksville, accounting for 93% (916 people). This share was lower than Nambucca (A) (93.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 96 people and 1.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Macksville - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Macksville in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Macksville, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).

Macksville
Nambucca (A)

Employed

2021 count

916

% of total

93.0%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

445

% of total

45.2%

Change from 2016

-5.0pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

399

% of total

40.5%

Change from 2016

+4.9pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

72

% of total

7.3%

Change from 2016

+2.0pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

74

% of total

7.5%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

42

% of total

4.3%

Change from 2016

-2.5pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

29

% of total

2.9%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Data table

Employment status for Macksville. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).

Employment status for Macksville. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
Employment status for Macksville. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Nambucca (A)%Count%Nambucca (A)%Countpp
Employed91693.0%93.2%82091.1%90.6%+96+1.9pp
Employed full-time44545.2%45.1%45250.2%45.5%-7-5.0pp
Employed part-time39940.5%40.9%32035.6%38.8%+79+4.9pp
Employed, away from work727.3%7.2%485.3%6.3%+24+2.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)747.5%6.8%798.8%9.4%-5-1.3pp
Looking for full-time work424.3%3.8%616.8%6.1%-19-2.5pp
Looking for part-time work292.9%2.9%192.1%3.4%+10+0.8pp
Total labour force985100.0%100.0%900100.0%100.0%+850.0pp