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 Lightning Ridge, accounting for 88.6% (550 people). This share was lower than Walgett (A) (93.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 78 people, while its share rose by 3.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Lightning Ridge - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Lightning Ridge in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Walgett (A) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lightning Ridge, with comparison markers for Walgett (A).
Employed
2021 count
550
% of total
88.6%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
550
88.6%
+3.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
291
% of total
46.9%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
291
46.9%
+4.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
215
% of total
34.6%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
215
34.6%
-1.2pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
46
% of total
7.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
46
7.4%
-0.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
68
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
68
11.0%
-3.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
39
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
39
6.3%
-2.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
31
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
31
5.0%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-78
+3.2pp
Employed full-time
-20
+4.6pp
Employed part-time
-48
-1.2pp
Employed, away from work
-12
-0.5pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-41
-3.8pp
Looking for full-time work
-25
-2.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-8
-0.3pp
Data table
Employment status for Lightning Ridge. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Walgett (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Walgett (A)% | Count | % | Walgett (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 550 | 88.6% | 93.1% | 628 | 85.4% | 89.3% | -78 | +3.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 291 | 46.9% | 59.2% | 311 | 42.3% | 56.4% | -20 | +4.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 215 | 34.6% | 27.5% | 263 | 35.8% | 26.6% | -48 | -1.2pp |
| Employed, away from work | 46 | 7.4% | 7.1% | 58 | 7.9% | 6.5% | -12 | -0.5pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 68 | 11.0% | 6.7% | 109 | 14.8% | 10.6% | -41 | -3.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 39 | 6.3% | 4.2% | 64 | 8.7% | 6.7% | -25 | -2.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 31 | 5.0% | 2.5% | 39 | 5.3% | 3.9% | -8 | -0.3pp |
| Total labour force | 621 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 735 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -114 | 0.0pp |