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 Playford, accounting for 95.2% (1,231 people). This share was higher than Whyalla (C) (92.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,214 people, while its share fell by 4.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Whyalla Playford - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Whyalla Playford in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whyalla (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla Playford, with comparison markers for Whyalla (C).
Employed
2021 count
1,231
% of total
95.2%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
1,231
95.2%
-4.8pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
781
% of total
60.4%
Change from 2016
+19.2pp
781
60.4%
+19.2pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
377
% of total
29.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
377
29.2%
-0.2pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
73
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
+5.6pp
73
5.6%
+5.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
60
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
60
4.6%
+4.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
43
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
43
3.3%
+3.3pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
18
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
18
1.4%
+1.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+1,214
-4.8pp
Employed full-time
+774
+19.2pp
Employed part-time
+372
-0.2pp
Employed, away from work
+73
+5.6pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
+60
+4.6pp
Looking for full-time work
+43
+3.3pp
Looking for part-time work
+18
+1.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Whyalla Playford. Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whyalla (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Whyalla (C)% | Count | % | Whyalla (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 1,231 | 95.2% | 92.4% | 17 | 100.0% | 87.6% | +1,214 | -4.8pp |
| Employed full-time | 781 | 60.4% | 56.3% | 7 | 41.2% | 52.6% | +774 | +19.2pp |
| Employed part-time | 377 | 29.2% | 29.8% | 5 | 29.4% | 29.5% | +372 | -0.2pp |
| Employed, away from work | 73 | 5.6% | 6.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 5.5% | +73 | +5.6pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 60 | 4.6% | 7.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 12.4% | +60 | +4.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 43 | 3.3% | 4.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 8.5% | +43 | +3.3pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 18 | 1.4% | 2.9% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.9% | +18 | +1.4pp |
| Total labour force | 1,293 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 17 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,276 | 0.0pp |