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 Northampton, accounting for 89.7% (236 people). This share was lower than Northampton (S) (96.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed full-time, which decreased by 26 people and 2.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Northampton - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Northampton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Northampton (S) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Northampton, with comparison markers for Northampton (S).
Employed
2021 count
236
% of total
89.7%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
236
89.7%
+4.9pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
122
% of total
46.4%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
122
46.4%
-2.4pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
85
% of total
32.3%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
85
32.3%
+3.9pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
34
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
+5.6pp
34
12.9%
+5.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
26
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
-5.9pp
26
9.9%
-5.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
22
% of total
8.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
22
8.4%
-1.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
6
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
6
2.3%
-2.0pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-21
+4.9pp
Employed full-time
-26
-2.4pp
Employed part-time
-1
+3.9pp
Employed, away from work
+12
+5.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-22
-5.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-9
-1.8pp
Looking for part-time work
-7
-2.0pp
Data table
Employment status for Northampton. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Northampton (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Northampton (S)% | Count | % | Northampton (S)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 236 | 89.7% | 96.1% | 257 | 84.8% | 92.6% | -21 | +4.9pp |
| Employed full-time | 122 | 46.4% | 50.4% | 148 | 48.8% | 51.4% | -26 | -2.4pp |
| Employed part-time | 85 | 32.3% | 35.5% | 86 | 28.4% | 33.0% | -1 | +3.9pp |
| Employed, away from work | 34 | 12.9% | 10.4% | 22 | 7.3% | 8.2% | +12 | +5.6pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 26 | 9.9% | 4.0% | 48 | 15.8% | 7.5% | -22 | -5.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 22 | 8.4% | 2.8% | 31 | 10.2% | 5.4% | -9 | -1.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 6 | 2.3% | 1.6% | 13 | 4.3% | 2.1% | -7 | -2.0pp |
| Total labour force | 263 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 303 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -40 | 0.0pp |