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 Smithfield Plains, accounting for 84.3% (1,026 people). This share was lower than Playford (C) (90.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 276 people and 5.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Smithfield Plains - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Smithfield Plains in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Playford (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield Plains, with comparison markers for Playford (C).
Employed
2021 count
1,026
% of total
84.3%
Change from 2016
+5.8pp
1,026
84.3%
+5.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
537
% of total
44.1%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
537
44.1%
+1.7pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
423
% of total
34.8%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
423
34.8%
+3.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
69
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
69
5.7%
+1.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
190
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
-5.8pp
190
15.6%
-5.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
132
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
132
10.8%
-4.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
56
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
56
4.6%
-1.9pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+276
+5.8pp
Employed full-time
+132
+1.7pp
Employed part-time
+125
+3.6pp
Employed, away from work
+26
+1.2pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-14
-5.8pp
Looking for full-time work
-13
-4.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-6
-1.9pp
Data table
Employment status for Smithfield Plains. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Playford (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Playford (C)% | Count | % | Playford (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,026 | 84.3% | 90.7% | 750 | 78.5% | 87.2% | +276 | +5.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 537 | 44.1% | 52.7% | 405 | 42.4% | 51.7% | +132 | +1.7pp |
| Employed part-time | 423 | 34.8% | 31.7% | 298 | 31.2% | 30.3% | +125 | +3.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 69 | 5.7% | 6.3% | 43 | 4.5% | 5.2% | +26 | +1.2pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 190 | 15.6% | 9.3% | 204 | 21.4% | 12.8% | -14 | -5.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 132 | 10.8% | 5.5% | 145 | 15.2% | 8.4% | -13 | -4.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 56 | 4.6% | 3.8% | 62 | 6.5% | 4.4% | -6 | -1.9pp |
| Total labour force | 1,217 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 955 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +262 | 0.0pp |