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 Mount Vernon, accounting for 98.3% (595 people). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 569 people, while its share fell by 1.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Mount Vernon - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Mount Vernon in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Mount Vernon, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).

Mount Vernon
Penrith (C)

Employed

2021 count

595

% of total

98.3%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

314

% of total

51.9%

Change from 2016

-5.8pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

186

% of total

30.7%

Change from 2016

-23.1pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

93

% of total

15.4%

Change from 2016

+15.4pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

11

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

+1.8pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

5

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

4

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.7pp

Data table

Employment status for Mount Vernon. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).

Employment status for Mount Vernon. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Employment status for Mount Vernon. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Penrith (C)%Count%Penrith (C)%Countpp
Employed59598.3%95.4%26100.0%94.3%+569-1.7pp
Employed full-time31451.9%56.3%1557.7%63.9%+299-5.8pp
Employed part-time18630.7%26.9%1453.8%25.6%+172-23.1pp
Employed, away from work9315.4%12.3%00.0%4.8%+93+15.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)111.8%4.6%00.0%5.7%+11+1.8pp
Looking for full-time work50.8%2.9%00.0%3.4%+5+0.8pp
Looking for part-time work40.7%1.7%00.0%2.3%+4+0.7pp
Total labour force605100.0%100.0%26100.0%100.0%+5790.0pp