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 West Coast (M), accounting for 90.4% (1,588 people). This share was lower than Regional Tas. (94.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Looking for full-time work, which decreased by 83 people and 4.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
West Coast (M) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for West Coast (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for West Coast (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
Employed
2021 count
1,588
% of total
90.4%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
1,588
90.4%
+4.3pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
897
% of total
51.1%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
897
51.1%
+0.7pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
553
% of total
31.5%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
553
31.5%
+2.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
140
% of total
8.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
140
8.0%
+1.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
168
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
168
9.6%
-4.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
114
% of total
6.5%
Change from 2016
-4.7pp
114
6.5%
-4.7pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
54
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
54
3.1%
+0.3pp
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+73
+4.3pp
Employed full-time
+10
+0.7pp
Employed part-time
+39
+2.3pp
Employed, away from work
+23
+1.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-75
-4.2pp
Looking for full-time work
-83
-4.7pp
Looking for part-time work
+5
+0.3pp
Data table
Employment status for West Coast (M). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,588 | 90.4% | 94.4% | 1,515 | 86.1% | 92.5% | +73 | +4.3pp |
| Employed full-time | 897 | 51.1% | 51.8% | 887 | 50.4% | 51.6% | +10 | +0.7pp |
| Employed part-time | 553 | 31.5% | 36.1% | 514 | 29.2% | 34.9% | +39 | +2.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 140 | 8.0% | 6.4% | 117 | 6.6% | 6.0% | +23 | +1.4pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 168 | 9.6% | 5.6% | 243 | 13.8% | 7.5% | -75 | -4.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 114 | 6.5% | 3.2% | 197 | 11.2% | 4.6% | -83 | -4.7pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 54 | 3.1% | 2.4% | 49 | 2.8% | 2.8% | +5 | +0.3pp |
| Total labour force | 1,757 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,760 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -3 | 0.0pp |