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 Port Lincoln (C), accounting for 95.5% (6,509 people). This share was higher than Regional SA (95.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 382 people and 1.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Port Lincoln (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Port Lincoln (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Lincoln (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Employed
2021 count
6,509
% of total
95.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
6,509
95.5%
+1.9pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
3,370
% of total
49.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
3,370
49.4%
-1.8pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
2,580
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
2,580
37.8%
+1.1pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
561
% of total
8.2%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
561
8.2%
+2.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
309
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
309
4.5%
-1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
175
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
175
2.6%
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
134
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
134
2.0%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+382
+1.9pp
Employed full-time
+16
-1.8pp
Employed part-time
+179
+1.1pp
Employed, away from work
+190
+2.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-112
-1.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-87
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-23
-0.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Port Lincoln (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 6,509 | 95.5% | 95.2% | 6,127 | 93.6% | 93.4% | +382 | +1.9pp |
| Employed full-time | 3,370 | 49.4% | 53.5% | 3,354 | 51.2% | 53.8% | +16 | -1.8pp |
| Employed part-time | 2,580 | 37.8% | 34.9% | 2,401 | 36.7% | 33.6% | +179 | +1.1pp |
| Employed, away from work | 561 | 8.2% | 6.7% | 371 | 5.7% | 6.0% | +190 | +2.5pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 309 | 4.5% | 4.8% | 421 | 6.4% | 6.6% | -112 | -1.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 175 | 2.6% | 2.8% | 262 | 4.0% | 4.3% | -87 | -1.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 134 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 157 | 2.4% | 2.3% | -23 | -0.4pp |
| Total labour force | 6,819 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,545 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +274 | 0.0pp |