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 Oberon (A), accounting for 96.6% (2,452 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 211 people and 2.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Oberon (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Oberon (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Oberon (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Employed
2021 count
2,452
% of total
96.6%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
2,452
96.6%
+2.5pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,557
% of total
61.3%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
1,557
61.3%
+1.7pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
700
% of total
27.6%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
700
27.6%
-1.5pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
194
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
194
7.6%
+2.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
89
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
89
3.5%
-2.3pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
60
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
60
2.4%
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
31
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
31
1.2%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+211
+2.5pp
Employed full-time
+138
+1.7pp
Employed part-time
+6
-1.5pp
Employed, away from work
+64
+2.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-48
-2.3pp
Looking for full-time work
-28
-1.3pp
Looking for part-time work
-14
-0.7pp
Data table
Employment status for Oberon (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 | 2,452 | 96.6% | 95.4% | 2,241 | 94.1% | 93.4% | +211 | +2.5pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,557 | 61.3% | 54.5% | 1,419 | 59.6% | 55.2% | +138 | +1.7pp |
| Employed part-time | 700 | 27.6% | 33.7% | 694 | 29.1% | 32.8% | +6 | -1.5pp |
| Employed, away from work | 194 | 7.6% | 7.3% | 130 | 5.5% | 5.4% | +64 | +2.1pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 89 | 3.5% | 4.6% | 137 | 5.8% | 6.6% | -48 | -2.3pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 60 | 2.4% | 2.5% | 88 | 3.7% | 3.9% | -28 | -1.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 31 | 1.2% | 2.0% | 45 | 1.9% | 2.7% | -14 | -0.7pp |
| Total labour force | 2,539 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,381 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +158 | 0.0pp |