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 Dalby, accounting for 95.2% (5,871 people). This share was lower than Western Downs (R) (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 5,805 people and 2.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Dalby - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Dalby in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Western Downs (R) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dalby, with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).
Employed
2021 count
5,871
% of total
95.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
5,871
95.2%
+2.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
3,682
% of total
59.7%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
3,682
59.7%
+0.5pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,849
% of total
30.0%
Change from 2016
+8.9pp
1,849
30.0%
+8.9pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
345
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-12.7pp
345
5.6%
-12.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
294
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
294
4.8%
+4.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
161
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
161
2.6%
-1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
134
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
134
2.2%
+2.2pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+5,805
+2.2pp
Employed full-time
+3,640
+0.5pp
Employed part-time
+1,834
+8.9pp
Employed, away from work
+332
-12.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+294
+4.8pp
Looking for full-time work
+158
-1.6pp
Looking for part-time work
+134
+2.2pp
Data table
Employment status for Dalby. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Western Downs (R)% | Count | % | Western Downs (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 5,871 | 95.2% | 95.4% | 66 | 93.0% | 93.7% | +5,805 | +2.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 3,682 | 59.7% | 61.5% | 42 | 59.2% | 61.6% | +3,640 | +0.5pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,849 | 30.0% | 27.6% | 15 | 21.1% | 26.6% | +1,834 | +8.9pp |
| Employed, away from work | 345 | 5.6% | 6.3% | 13 | 18.3% | 5.5% | +332 | -12.7pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 294 | 4.8% | 4.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.3% | +294 | +4.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 161 | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3 | 4.2% | 4.3% | +158 | -1.6pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 134 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% | +134 | +2.2pp |
| Total labour force | 6,164 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 71 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,093 | 0.0pp |