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 Salisbury Downs, accounting for 90.8% (2,403 people). This share was lower than Salisbury (C) (92.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 2,369 people, while its share fell by 1.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Salisbury Downs - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Salisbury Downs, with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).

Salisbury Downs
Salisbury (C)

Employed

2021 count

2,403

% of total

90.8%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

1,342

% of total

50.7%

Change from 2016

+12.9pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

915

% of total

34.6%

Change from 2016

-22.2pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

145

% of total

5.5%

Change from 2016

+5.5pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

237

% of total

9.0%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

118

% of total

4.5%

Change from 2016

-3.6pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

121

% of total

4.6%

Change from 2016

+4.6pp

Data table

Employment status for Salisbury Downs. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).

Employment status for Salisbury Downs. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
Employment status for Salisbury Downs. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Salisbury (C)%Count%Salisbury (C)%Countpp
Employed2,40390.8%92.6%3491.9%89.9%+2,369-1.1pp
Employed full-time1,34250.7%54.1%1437.8%54.4%+1,328+12.9pp
Employed part-time91534.6%33.4%2156.8%30.7%+894-22.2pp
Employed, away from work1455.5%5.0%00.0%4.8%+145+5.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)2379.0%7.4%38.1%10.1%+234+0.9pp
Looking for full-time work1184.5%4.1%38.1%6.3%+115-3.6pp
Looking for part-time work1214.6%3.4%00.0%3.8%+121+4.6pp
Total labour force2,646100.0%100.0%37100.0%100.0%+2,6090.0pp