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 South Gippsland (S), accounting for 96.8% (13,607 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (95.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,423 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
South Gippsland (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for South Gippsland (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for South Gippsland (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Employed
2021 count
13,607
% of total
96.8%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
13,607
96.8%
+1.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
7,127
% of total
50.7%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
7,127
50.7%
-1.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
5,304
% of total
37.7%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
5,304
37.7%
+1.2pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
1,172
% of total
8.3%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
1,172
8.3%
+1.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
448
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
448
3.2%
-1.7pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
226
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
226
1.6%
-1.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
218
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
218
1.6%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+1,423
+1.7pp
Employed full-time
+474
-1.2pp
Employed part-time
+633
+1.2pp
Employed, away from work
+309
+1.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-178
-1.7pp
Looking for full-time work
-139
-1.2pp
Looking for part-time work
-38
-0.4pp
Data table
Employment status for South Gippsland (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 13,607 | 96.8% | 95.9% | 12,184 | 95.1% | 94.0% | +1,423 | +1.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 7,127 | 50.7% | 53.6% | 6,653 | 51.9% | 53.8% | +474 | -1.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 5,304 | 37.7% | 34.9% | 4,671 | 36.5% | 34.2% | +633 | +1.2pp |
| Employed, away from work | 1,172 | 8.3% | 7.3% | 863 | 6.7% | 6.1% | +309 | +1.6pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 448 | 3.2% | 4.1% | 626 | 4.9% | 6.0% | -178 | -1.7pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 226 | 1.6% | 2.2% | 365 | 2.8% | 3.5% | -139 | -1.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 218 | 1.6% | 1.9% | 256 | 2.0% | 2.5% | -38 | -0.4pp |
| Total labour force | 14,053 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,810 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,243 | 0.0pp |