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 Penola, accounting for 97.7% (822 people). This share was higher than Wattle Range (DC) (95.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Unemployed (Unemployment rate), which decreased by 18 people and 2.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Penola - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Penola in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wattle Range (DC) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penola, with comparison markers for Wattle Range (DC).
Employed
2021 count
822
% of total
97.7%
Change from 2016
+2.1pp
822
97.7%
+2.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
504
% of total
59.9%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
504
59.9%
+2.0pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
264
% of total
31.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
264
31.4%
+0.9pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
59
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
59
7.0%
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
19
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
19
2.3%
-2.1pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
9
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
9
1.1%
-1.0pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
12
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
12
1.4%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+13
+2.1pp
Employed full-time
+14
+2.0pp
Employed part-time
+6
+0.9pp
Employed, away from work
0
0.0pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-18
-2.1pp
Looking for full-time work
-9
-1.0pp
Looking for part-time work
-6
-0.7pp
Data table
Employment status for Penola. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wattle Range (DC).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Wattle Range (DC)% | Count | % | Wattle Range (DC)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 822 | 97.7% | 95.9% | 809 | 95.6% | 93.9% | +13 | +2.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 504 | 59.9% | 52.9% | 490 | 57.9% | 53.0% | +14 | +2.0pp |
| Employed part-time | 264 | 31.4% | 35.6% | 258 | 30.5% | 33.3% | +6 | +0.9pp |
| Employed, away from work | 59 | 7.0% | 7.3% | 59 | 7.0% | 7.6% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 19 | 2.3% | 4.1% | 37 | 4.4% | 6.2% | -18 | -2.1pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 9 | 1.1% | 2.3% | 18 | 2.1% | 4.0% | -9 | -1.0pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 12 | 1.4% | 1.9% | 18 | 2.1% | 2.2% | -6 | -0.7pp |
| Total labour force | 841 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 846 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -5 | 0.0pp |