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 Western Downs (R), accounting for 95.4% (15,105 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (94.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 687 people and 1.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Western Downs (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Western Downs (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Western Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Employed
2021 count
15,105
% of total
95.4%
Change from 2016
+1.7pp
15,105
95.4%
+1.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
9,743
% of total
61.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
9,743
61.5%
-0.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
4,367
% of total
27.6%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
4,367
27.6%
+1.0pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
998
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
998
6.3%
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
733
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
733
4.6%
-1.7pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
452
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
452
2.9%
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
285
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
285
1.8%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+687
+1.7pp
Employed full-time
+265
-0.1pp
Employed part-time
+269
+1.0pp
Employed, away from work
+149
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-238
-1.7pp
Looking for full-time work
-214
-1.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-18
-0.2pp
Data table
Employment status for Western Downs (R). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 15,105 | 95.4% | 94.8% | 14,418 | 93.7% | 92.2% | +687 | +1.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 9,743 | 61.5% | 55.0% | 9,478 | 61.6% | 56.6% | +265 | -0.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 4,367 | 27.6% | 31.8% | 4,098 | 26.6% | 30.6% | +269 | +1.0pp |
| Employed, away from work | 998 | 6.3% | 7.9% | 849 | 5.5% | 5.1% | +149 | +0.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 733 | 4.6% | 5.2% | 971 | 6.3% | 7.8% | -238 | -1.7pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 452 | 2.9% | 2.9% | 666 | 4.3% | 4.8% | -214 | -1.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 285 | 1.8% | 2.3% | 303 | 2.0% | 2.9% | -18 | -0.2pp |
| Total labour force | 15,841 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 15,391 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +450 | 0.0pp |