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 Cooloongup, accounting for 89.6% (2,637 people). This share was lower than Rockingham (C) (93.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Unemployed (Unemployment rate), which decreased by 97 people and 3 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Cooloongup - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Cooloongup in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cooloongup, with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
Employed
2021 count
2,637
% of total
89.6%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
2,637
89.6%
+2.9pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,533
% of total
52.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
1,533
52.1%
0.0pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
893
% of total
30.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
893
30.3%
+0.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
209
% of total
7.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
209
7.1%
+2.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
306
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
306
10.4%
-3.0pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
186
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-3.1pp
186
6.3%
-3.1pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
119
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
119
4.0%
+0.1pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+37
+2.9pp
Employed full-time
-29
0.0pp
Employed part-time
-8
+0.3pp
Employed, away from work
+71
+2.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-97
-3.0pp
Looking for full-time work
-97
-3.1pp
Looking for part-time work
+2
+0.1pp
Data table
Employment status for Cooloongup. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Rockingham (C)% | Count | % | Rockingham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 2,637 | 89.6% | 93.6% | 2,600 | 86.7% | 90.2% | +37 | +2.9pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,533 | 52.1% | 57.0% | 1,562 | 52.1% | 56.9% | -29 | 0.0pp |
| Employed part-time | 893 | 30.3% | 30.0% | 901 | 30.0% | 27.9% | -8 | +0.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 209 | 7.1% | 6.6% | 138 | 4.6% | 5.5% | +71 | +2.5pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 306 | 10.4% | 6.4% | 403 | 13.4% | 9.8% | -97 | -3.0pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 186 | 6.3% | 3.4% | 283 | 9.4% | 6.3% | -97 | -3.1pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 119 | 4.0% | 3.0% | 117 | 3.9% | 3.4% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Total labour force | 2,944 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,000 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -56 | 0.0pp |