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 Nambucca Heads, accounting for 92.2% (1,937 people). This share was lower than Nambucca (A) (93.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 288 people and 3.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Nambucca Heads - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Nambucca Heads in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Nambucca (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Nambucca Heads, with comparison markers for Nambucca (A).
Employed
2021 count
1,937
% of total
92.2%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
1,937
92.2%
+3.9pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
876
% of total
41.7%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
876
41.7%
-1.5pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
894
% of total
42.5%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
894
42.5%
+3.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
161
% of total
7.7%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
161
7.7%
+1.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
167
% of total
7.9%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
167
7.9%
-3.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
100
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
100
4.8%
-2.6pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
69
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
69
3.3%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+288
+3.9pp
Employed full-time
+69
-1.5pp
Employed part-time
+161
+3.3pp
Employed, away from work
+49
+1.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-48
-3.6pp
Looking for full-time work
-39
-2.6pp
Looking for part-time work
-5
-0.7pp
Data table
Employment status for Nambucca Heads. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Nambucca (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | % | Nambucca (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,937 | 92.2% | 93.2% | 1,649 | 88.3% | 90.6% | +288 | +3.9pp |
| Employed full-time | 876 | 41.7% | 45.1% | 807 | 43.2% | 45.5% | +69 | -1.5pp |
| Employed part-time | 894 | 42.5% | 40.9% | 733 | 39.2% | 38.8% | +161 | +3.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 161 | 7.7% | 7.2% | 112 | 6.0% | 6.3% | +49 | +1.7pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 167 | 7.9% | 6.8% | 215 | 11.5% | 9.4% | -48 | -3.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 100 | 4.8% | 3.8% | 139 | 7.4% | 6.1% | -39 | -2.6pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 69 | 3.3% | 2.9% | 74 | 4.0% | 3.4% | -5 | -0.7pp |
| Total labour force | 2,102 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,868 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +234 | 0.0pp |