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 Sorell (M), accounting for 95.3% (7,839 people). This share was higher than Greater Hobart (93.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,516 people and 1.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Sorell (M) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Sorell (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Hobart and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sorell (M), with comparison markers for Greater Hobart.
Employed
2021 count
7,839
% of total
95.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
7,839
95.3%
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
4,340
% of total
52.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
4,340
52.7%
+0.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
2,890
% of total
35.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
2,890
35.1%
0.0pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
608
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
608
7.4%
+1.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
388
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
388
4.7%
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
221
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
221
2.7%
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
167
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
167
2.0%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+1,516
+1.8pp
Employed full-time
+793
+0.2pp
Employed part-time
+518
0.0pp
Employed, away from work
+210
+1.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-54
-1.8pp
Looking for full-time work
-58
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-1
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Sorell (M). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Hobart.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | % | Greater Hobart% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 7,839 | 95.3% | 93.8% | 6,323 | 93.5% | 93.6% | +1,516 | +1.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 4,340 | 52.7% | 51.5% | 3,547 | 52.5% | 53.2% | +793 | +0.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 2,890 | 35.1% | 36.8% | 2,372 | 35.1% | 35.2% | +518 | 0.0pp |
| Employed, away from work | 608 | 7.4% | 5.5% | 398 | 5.9% | 5.2% | +210 | +1.5pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 388 | 4.7% | 6.2% | 442 | 6.5% | 6.4% | -54 | -1.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 221 | 2.7% | 3.2% | 279 | 4.1% | 3.5% | -58 | -1.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 167 | 2.0% | 3.0% | 168 | 2.5% | 2.9% | -1 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 8,229 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,762 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,467 | 0.0pp |