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 Stanthorpe, accounting for 94.8% (1,995 people). This share was lower than Southern Downs (R) (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed part-time, which increased by 75 people and 3.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Stanthorpe - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Stanthorpe in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Stanthorpe, with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).
Employed
2021 count
1,995
% of total
94.8%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
1,995
94.8%
+2.3pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
998
% of total
47.4%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
998
47.4%
-1.5pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
868
% of total
41.2%
Change from 2016
+3.6pp
868
41.2%
+3.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
135
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
135
6.4%
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
104
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
104
4.9%
-2.4pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
61
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
61
2.9%
-1.9pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
45
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
45
2.1%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+47
+2.3pp
Employed full-time
-33
-1.5pp
Employed part-time
+75
+3.6pp
Employed, away from work
+1
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-50
-2.4pp
Looking for full-time work
-40
-1.9pp
Looking for part-time work
-9
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Stanthorpe. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Southern Downs (R)% | Count | % | Southern Downs (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,995 | 94.8% | 95.4% | 1,948 | 92.5% | 93.7% | +47 | +2.3pp |
| Employed full-time | 998 | 47.4% | 53.3% | 1,031 | 48.9% | 54.7% | -33 | -1.5pp |
| Employed part-time | 868 | 41.2% | 35.2% | 793 | 37.6% | 33.1% | +75 | +3.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 135 | 6.4% | 6.8% | 134 | 6.4% | 5.9% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 104 | 4.9% | 4.6% | 154 | 7.3% | 6.3% | -50 | -2.4pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 61 | 2.9% | 2.5% | 101 | 4.8% | 4.0% | -40 | -1.9pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 45 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 54 | 2.6% | 2.2% | -9 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 2,105 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,107 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -2 | 0.0pp |