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 Upper Hunter Shire (A), accounting for 96.8% (6,784 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 486 people and 1.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Upper Hunter Shire (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Upper Hunter Shire (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Upper Hunter Shire (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Employed
2021 count
6,784
% of total
96.8%
Change from 2016
+1.5pp
6,784
96.8%
+1.5pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
4,385
% of total
62.6%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
4,385
62.6%
+2.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,956
% of total
27.9%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
1,956
27.9%
-1.9pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
437
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
437
6.2%
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
224
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
224
3.2%
-1.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
136
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
136
1.9%
-1.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
89
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
89
1.3%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+486
+1.5pp
Employed full-time
+417
+2.6pp
Employed part-time
-12
-1.9pp
Employed, away from work
+82
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-96
-1.6pp
Looking for full-time work
-71
-1.2pp
Looking for part-time work
-21
-0.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Upper Hunter Shire (A). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 6,784 | 96.8% | 95.4% | 6,298 | 95.3% | 93.4% | +486 | +1.5pp |
| Employed full-time | 4,385 | 62.6% | 54.5% | 3,968 | 60.0% | 55.2% | +417 | +2.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,956 | 27.9% | 33.7% | 1,968 | 29.8% | 32.8% | -12 | -1.9pp |
| Employed, away from work | 437 | 6.2% | 7.3% | 355 | 5.4% | 5.4% | +82 | +0.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 224 | 3.2% | 4.6% | 320 | 4.8% | 6.6% | -96 | -1.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 136 | 1.9% | 2.5% | 207 | 3.1% | 3.9% | -71 | -1.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 89 | 1.3% | 2.0% | 110 | 1.7% | 2.7% | -21 | -0.4pp |
| Total labour force | 7,009 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,611 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +398 | 0.0pp |