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, accounting for 94.9% (1,762 people). This share was higher than Whyalla (C) (92.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 123 people and 4.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Whyalla - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Whyalla in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whyalla (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whyalla, with comparison markers for Whyalla (C).
Employed
2021 count
1,762
% of total
94.9%
Change from 2016
+4.1pp
1,762
94.9%
+4.1pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
1,135
% of total
61.1%
Change from 2016
+2.5pp
1,135
61.1%
+2.5pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
516
% of total
27.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
516
27.8%
-0.1pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
106
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
106
5.7%
+0.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
97
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-3.9pp
97
5.2%
-3.9pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
62
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-3.2pp
62
3.3%
-3.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
36
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
36
1.9%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+123
+4.1pp
Employed full-time
+77
+2.5pp
Employed part-time
+13
-0.1pp
Employed, away from work
+19
+0.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-68
-3.9pp
Looking for full-time work
-55
-3.2pp
Looking for part-time work
-8
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Whyalla. 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 | 1,762 | 94.9% | 92.4% | 1,639 | 90.8% | 87.6% | +123 | +4.1pp |
| Employed full-time | 1,135 | 61.1% | 56.3% | 1,058 | 58.6% | 52.6% | +77 | +2.5pp |
| Employed part-time | 516 | 27.8% | 29.8% | 503 | 27.9% | 29.5% | +13 | -0.1pp |
| Employed, away from work | 106 | 5.7% | 6.3% | 87 | 4.8% | 5.5% | +19 | +0.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 97 | 5.2% | 7.6% | 165 | 9.1% | 12.4% | -68 | -3.9pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 62 | 3.3% | 4.8% | 117 | 6.5% | 8.5% | -55 | -3.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 36 | 1.9% | 2.9% | 44 | 2.4% | 3.9% | -8 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 1,857 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,805 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +52 | 0.0pp |