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 Cooltong, accounting for 97.3% (179 people). This share was higher than Renmark Paringa (DC) (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 138 people, while its share fell by 2.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Cooltong - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Cooltong in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Renmark Paringa (DC) and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cooltong, with comparison markers for Renmark Paringa (DC).

Cooltong
Renmark Paringa (DC)

Employed

2021 count

179

% of total

97.3%

Change from 2016

-2.7pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

93

% of total

50.5%

Change from 2016

-20.2pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

61

% of total

33.2%

Change from 2016

+21.0pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

23

% of total

12.5%

Change from 2016

+12.5pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

5

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

+2.7pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

3

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

5

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

+2.7pp

Data table

Employment status for Cooltong. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Renmark Paringa (DC).

Employment status for Cooltong. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Renmark Paringa (DC).
Employment status for Cooltong. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Renmark Paringa (DC).
Category20212016Change
Count%Renmark Paringa (DC)%Count%Renmark Paringa (DC)%Countpp
Employed17997.3%95.4%41100.0%93.1%+138-2.7pp
Employed full-time9350.5%54.5%2970.7%54.9%+64-20.2pp
Employed part-time6133.2%34.0%512.2%32.4%+56+21.0pp
Employed, away from work2312.5%6.9%00.0%5.9%+23+12.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)52.7%4.7%00.0%6.9%+5+2.7pp
Looking for full-time work31.6%2.7%00.0%4.6%+3+1.6pp
Looking for part-time work52.7%2.0%00.0%2.3%+5+2.7pp
Total labour force184100.0%100.0%41100.0%100.0%+1430.0pp