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 Parkes (A), accounting for 94.9% (6,197 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 357 people and 2.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Parkes (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Parkes (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Parkes (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Employed
2021 count
6,197
% of total
94.9%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
6,197
94.9%
+2.3pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
3,947
% of total
60.5%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
3,947
60.5%
+2.7pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,882
% of total
28.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
1,882
28.8%
+0.2pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
362
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
362
5.5%
-0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
336
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
336
5.1%
-2.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
200
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
200
3.1%
-1.7pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
131
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
131
2.0%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+357
+2.3pp
Employed full-time
+300
+2.7pp
Employed part-time
+77
+0.2pp
Employed, away from work
-33
-0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-134
-2.4pp
Looking for full-time work
-102
-1.7pp
Looking for part-time work
-29
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Parkes (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 | 6,197 | 94.9% | 95.4% | 5,840 | 92.6% | 93.4% | +357 | +2.3pp |
| Employed full-time | 3,947 | 60.5% | 54.5% | 3,647 | 57.8% | 55.2% | +300 | +2.7pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,882 | 28.8% | 33.7% | 1,805 | 28.6% | 32.8% | +77 | +0.2pp |
| Employed, away from work | 362 | 5.5% | 7.3% | 395 | 6.3% | 5.4% | -33 | -0.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 336 | 5.1% | 4.6% | 470 | 7.5% | 6.6% | -134 | -2.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 200 | 3.1% | 2.5% | 302 | 4.8% | 3.9% | -102 | -1.7pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 131 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 160 | 2.5% | 2.7% | -29 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 6,528 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,307 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +221 | 0.0pp |