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 (SA), accounting for 89.1% (3,109 people). This share was lower than Salisbury (C) (92.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 405 people and 4.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Salisbury (SA) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Salisbury (SA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Salisbury (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Salisbury (SA), with comparison markers for Salisbury (C).
Employed
2021 count
3,109
% of total
89.1%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
3,109
89.1%
+4.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,719
% of total
49.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
1,719
49.3%
+0.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,188
% of total
34.0%
Change from 2016
+2.9pp
1,188
34.0%
+2.9pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
203
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
203
5.8%
+0.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
381
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
381
10.9%
-4.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
230
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
230
6.6%
-3.7pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
149
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
149
4.3%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+405
+4.2pp
Employed full-time
+167
+0.6pp
Employed part-time
+197
+2.9pp
Employed, away from work
+47
+0.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-101
-4.2pp
Looking for full-time work
-98
-3.7pp
Looking for part-time work
-8
-0.6pp
Data table
Employment status for Salisbury (SA). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Salisbury (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | % | Salisbury (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 3,109 | 89.1% | 92.6% | 2,704 | 84.9% | 89.9% | +405 | +4.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,719 | 49.3% | 54.1% | 1,552 | 48.7% | 54.4% | +167 | +0.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,188 | 34.0% | 33.4% | 991 | 31.1% | 30.7% | +197 | +2.9pp |
| Employed, away from work | 203 | 5.8% | 5.0% | 156 | 4.9% | 4.8% | +47 | +0.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 381 | 10.9% | 7.4% | 482 | 15.1% | 10.1% | -101 | -4.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 230 | 6.6% | 4.1% | 328 | 10.3% | 6.3% | -98 | -3.7pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 149 | 4.3% | 3.4% | 157 | 4.9% | 3.8% | -8 | -0.6pp |
| Total labour force | 3,489 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,186 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +303 | 0.0pp |