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 Southern Grampians (S), accounting for 97% (7,720 people). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (95.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 470 people and 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Southern Grampians (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Southern Grampians (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Southern Grampians (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Employed
2021 count
7,720
% of total
97.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
7,720
97.0%
+1.4pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
4,418
% of total
55.5%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
4,418
55.5%
+1.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
2,732
% of total
34.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,732
34.3%
-0.6pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
574
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
574
7.2%
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
233
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
233
2.9%
-1.5pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
132
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
132
1.7%
-0.9pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
100
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
100
1.3%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+470
+1.4pp
Employed full-time
+291
+1.1pp
Employed part-time
+89
-0.6pp
Employed, away from work
+92
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-102
-1.5pp
Looking for full-time work
-64
-0.9pp
Looking for part-time work
-39
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Southern Grampians (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 | 7,720 | 97.0% | 95.9% | 7,250 | 95.6% | 94.0% | +470 | +1.4pp |
| Employed full-time | 4,418 | 55.5% | 53.6% | 4,127 | 54.4% | 53.8% | +291 | +1.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 2,732 | 34.3% | 34.9% | 2,643 | 34.9% | 34.2% | +89 | -0.6pp |
| Employed, away from work | 574 | 7.2% | 7.3% | 482 | 6.4% | 6.1% | +92 | +0.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 233 | 2.9% | 4.1% | 335 | 4.4% | 6.0% | -102 | -1.5pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 132 | 1.7% | 2.2% | 196 | 2.6% | 3.5% | -64 | -0.9pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 100 | 1.3% | 1.9% | 139 | 1.8% | 2.5% | -39 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 7,958 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,581 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +377 | 0.0pp |