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 Unincorporated ACT, accounting for 96.2% (248,388 people). This share was similar to Australian Capital Territory (96.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 42,969 people and 0.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Unincorporated ACT - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Unincorporated ACT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Australian Capital Territory and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated ACT, with comparison markers for Australian Capital Territory.
Employed
2021 count
248,388
% of total
96.2%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
248,388
96.2%
+0.9pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
163,473
% of total
63.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
163,473
63.3%
-0.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
71,301
% of total
27.6%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
71,301
27.6%
+1.2pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
13,617
% of total
5.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
13,617
5.3%
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
9,905
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
9,905
3.8%
-0.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
4,706
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
4,706
1.8%
-0.5pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
5,202
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
5,202
2.0%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+42,969
+0.9pp
Employed full-time
+26,538
-0.2pp
Employed part-time
+14,300
+1.2pp
Employed, away from work
+2,132
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-262
-0.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-157
-0.5pp
Looking for part-time work
-103
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Unincorporated ACT. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Australian Capital Territory.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 248,388 | 96.2% | 96.2% | 205,419 | 95.3% | 95.3% | +42,969 | +0.9pp |
| Employed full-time | 163,473 | 63.3% | 63.3% | 136,935 | 63.5% | 63.5% | +26,538 | -0.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 71,301 | 27.6% | 27.6% | 57,001 | 26.4% | 26.4% | +14,300 | +1.2pp |
| Employed, away from work | 13,617 | 5.3% | 5.3% | 11,485 | 5.3% | 5.3% | +2,132 | 0.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 9,905 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 10,167 | 4.7% | 4.7% | -262 | -0.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 4,706 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 4,863 | 2.3% | 2.3% | -157 | -0.5pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 5,202 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 5,305 | 2.5% | 2.5% | -103 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 258,296 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 215,586 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +42,710 | 0.0pp |