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 Whyalla (C), accounting for 92.4% (8,870 people). This share was lower than Regional SA (95.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 571 people and 4.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Whyalla (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Whyalla (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla (C), with comparison markers for Regional SA.
Employed
2021 count
8,870
% of total
92.4%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
8,870
92.4%
+4.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
5,404
% of total
56.3%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
5,404
56.3%
+3.7pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
2,866
% of total
29.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
2,866
29.8%
+0.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
609
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
609
6.3%
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
731
% of total
7.6%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
731
7.6%
-4.8pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
459
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
459
4.8%
-3.7pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
277
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
277
2.9%
-1.0pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+571
+4.8pp
Employed full-time
+423
+3.7pp
Employed part-time
+69
+0.3pp
Employed, away from work
+84
+0.8pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-446
-4.8pp
Looking for full-time work
-349
-3.7pp
Looking for part-time work
-95
-1.0pp
Data table
Employment status for Whyalla (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | % | Regional SA% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 8,870 | 92.4% | 95.2% | 8,299 | 87.6% | 93.4% | +571 | +4.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 5,404 | 56.3% | 53.5% | 4,981 | 52.6% | 53.8% | +423 | +3.7pp |
| Employed part-time | 2,866 | 29.8% | 34.9% | 2,797 | 29.5% | 33.6% | +69 | +0.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 609 | 6.3% | 6.7% | 525 | 5.5% | 6.0% | +84 | +0.8pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 731 | 7.6% | 4.8% | 1,177 | 12.4% | 6.6% | -446 | -4.8pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 459 | 4.8% | 2.8% | 808 | 8.5% | 4.3% | -349 | -3.7pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 277 | 2.9% | 2.0% | 372 | 3.9% | 2.3% | -95 | -1.0pp |
| Total labour force | 9,604 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 9,477 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +127 | 0.0pp |