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 Victoria Plains (S), accounting for 97.2% (412 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (95.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed full-time, which decreased by 46 people and 4.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Victoria Plains (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Victoria Plains (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Labour force status change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Employed

-41

+0.4pp

Employed full-time

-46

-4.1pp

Employed part-time

+10

+5.0pp

Employed, away from work

+4

+1.5pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

-4

-0.5pp

Looking for full-time work

-2

-0.3pp

Looking for part-time work

-4

-0.7pp

Data table

Employment status for Victoria Plains (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Employment status for Victoria Plains (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Employment status for Victoria Plains (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
Employed41297.2%95.8%45396.8%93.6%-41+0.4pp
Employed full-time26061.3%58.7%30665.4%59.1%-46-4.1pp
Employed part-time12730.0%29.7%11725.0%27.8%+10+5.0pp
Employed, away from work307.1%7.4%265.6%6.7%+4+1.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)133.1%4.2%173.6%6.4%-4-0.5pp
Looking for full-time work61.4%2.4%81.7%4.3%-2-0.3pp
Looking for part-time work61.4%1.7%102.1%2.1%-4-0.7pp
Total labour force424100.0%100.0%468100.0%100.0%-440.0pp