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 Noarlunga Downs, accounting for 93.3% (1,773 people). This share was lower than Onkaparinga (C) (94.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 196 people and 3.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Noarlunga Downs - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Noarlunga Downs in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Noarlunga Downs, with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).
Employed
2021 count
1,773
% of total
93.3%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
1,773
93.3%
+3.3pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
970
% of total
51.1%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
970
51.1%
+0.5pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
671
% of total
35.3%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
671
35.3%
+2.0pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
129
% of total
6.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
129
6.8%
+0.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
132
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
132
6.9%
-3.1pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
74
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
74
3.9%
-2.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
55
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
55
2.9%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+196
+3.3pp
Employed full-time
+83
+0.5pp
Employed part-time
+87
+2.0pp
Employed, away from work
+25
+0.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-44
-3.1pp
Looking for full-time work
-37
-2.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-6
-0.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Noarlunga Downs. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | % | Onkaparinga (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,773 | 93.3% | 94.5% | 1,577 | 90.0% | 92.3% | +196 | +3.3pp |
| Employed full-time | 970 | 51.1% | 52.6% | 887 | 50.6% | 52.5% | +83 | +0.5pp |
| Employed part-time | 671 | 35.3% | 36.1% | 584 | 33.3% | 34.8% | +87 | +2.0pp |
| Employed, away from work | 129 | 6.8% | 5.7% | 104 | 5.9% | 5.1% | +25 | +0.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 132 | 6.9% | 5.6% | 176 | 10.0% | 7.7% | -44 | -3.1pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 74 | 3.9% | 3.0% | 111 | 6.3% | 4.6% | -37 | -2.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 55 | 2.9% | 2.6% | 61 | 3.5% | 3.1% | -6 | -0.6pp |
| Total labour force | 1,900 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,752 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +148 | 0.0pp |