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 Plain, accounting for 92.8% (540 people). This share was higher than Salisbury (C) (92.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 35 people and 1.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Salisbury Plain - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Labour force status snapshot

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

Salisbury Plain
Salisbury (C)

Employed

2021 count

540

% of total

92.8%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

308

% of total

52.9%

Change from 2016

+0.8pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

205

% of total

35.2%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

29

% of total

5.0%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

46

% of total

7.9%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

18

% of total

3.1%

Change from 2016

-3.6pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

25

% of total

4.3%

Change from 2016

+1.8pp

Data table

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

Employment status for Salisbury Plain. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
Employment status for Salisbury Plain. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Salisbury (C)%Count%Salisbury (C)%Countpp
Employed54092.8%92.6%50591.3%89.9%+35+1.5pp
Employed full-time30852.9%54.1%28852.1%54.4%+20+0.8pp
Employed part-time20535.2%33.4%18433.3%30.7%+21+1.9pp
Employed, away from work295.0%5.0%264.7%4.8%+3+0.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)467.9%7.4%498.9%10.1%-3-1.0pp
Looking for full-time work183.1%4.1%376.7%6.3%-19-3.6pp
Looking for part-time work254.3%3.4%142.5%3.8%+11+1.8pp
Total labour force582100.0%100.0%553100.0%100.0%+290.0pp