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 Chatswood West (part), accounting for 96.5% (735 people). This share was higher than Willoughby (C) (95.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 10,892 people, while its share rose by 3.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Chatswood West (part) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Chatswood West (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Willoughby (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Chatswood West (part), with comparison markers for Willoughby (C).
Employed
2021 count
735
% of total
96.5%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
735
96.5%
+3.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
445
% of total
58.4%
Change from 2016
-4.1pp
445
58.4%
-4.1pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
235
% of total
30.8%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
235
30.8%
+3.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
66
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
66
8.7%
+4.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
24
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
24
3.1%
-3.6pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
22
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
22
2.9%
-0.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
8
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
8
1.0%
-2.4pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-10,892
+3.2pp
Employed full-time
-7,337
-4.1pp
Employed part-time
-3,130
+3.8pp
Employed, away from work
-412
+4.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-812
-3.6pp
Looking for full-time work
-390
-0.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-412
-2.4pp
Data table
Employment status for Chatswood West (part). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Willoughby (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | % | Willoughby (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 735 | 96.5% | 95.6% | 11,627 | 93.3% | 94.9% | -10,892 | +3.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 445 | 58.4% | 60.1% | 7,782 | 62.5% | 63.6% | -7,337 | -4.1pp |
| Employed part-time | 235 | 30.8% | 27.2% | 3,365 | 27.0% | 27.4% | -3,130 | +3.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 66 | 8.7% | 8.3% | 478 | 3.8% | 3.9% | -412 | +4.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 24 | 3.1% | 4.4% | 836 | 6.7% | 5.1% | -812 | -3.6pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 22 | 2.9% | 2.5% | 412 | 3.3% | 2.6% | -390 | -0.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 8 | 1.0% | 1.9% | 420 | 3.4% | 2.5% | -412 | -2.4pp |
| Total labour force | 762 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,458 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -11,696 | 0.0pp |