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 Strathfield (A), accounting for 93.6% (22,795 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (94.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 3,177 people and 0.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Strathfield (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Strathfield (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Strathfield (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Employed
2021 count
22,795
% of total
93.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
22,795
93.6%
+0.6pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
12,843
% of total
52.7%
Change from 2016
-7.4pp
12,843
52.7%
-7.4pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
7,383
% of total
30.3%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
7,383
30.3%
+1.9pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
2,577
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+6.1pp
2,577
10.6%
+6.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
1,566
% of total
6.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,566
6.4%
-0.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
827
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
827
3.4%
0.0pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
746
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
746
3.1%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+3,177
+0.6pp
Employed full-time
+165
-7.4pp
Employed part-time
+1,402
+1.9pp
Employed, away from work
+1,625
+6.1pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+93
-0.6pp
Looking for full-time work
+112
0.0pp
Looking for part-time work
-11
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Strathfield (A). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 22,795 | 93.6% | 94.9% | 19,618 | 93.0% | 94.0% | +3,177 | +0.6pp |
| Employed full-time | 12,843 | 52.7% | 55.5% | 12,678 | 60.1% | 61.2% | +165 | -7.4pp |
| Employed part-time | 7,383 | 30.3% | 27.7% | 5,981 | 28.4% | 28.2% | +1,402 | +1.9pp |
| Employed, away from work | 2,577 | 10.6% | 11.7% | 952 | 4.5% | 4.5% | +1,625 | +6.1pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 1,566 | 6.4% | 5.1% | 1,473 | 7.0% | 6.0% | +93 | -0.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 827 | 3.4% | 2.9% | 715 | 3.4% | 3.2% | +112 | 0.0pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 746 | 3.1% | 2.1% | 757 | 3.6% | 2.9% | -11 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 24,366 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,095 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,271 | 0.0pp |