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 Wollongong (C), accounting for 95.1% (98,020 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (95.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 9,769 people and 2.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Wollongong (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Wollongong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wollongong (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Employed
2021 count
98,020
% of total
95.1%
Change from 2016
+2.2pp
98,020
95.1%
+2.2pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
53,221
% of total
51.6%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
53,221
51.6%
-3.6pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
33,183
% of total
32.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
33,183
32.2%
-0.5pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
11,612
% of total
11.3%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
11,612
11.3%
+6.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
5,023
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
5,023
4.9%
-2.2pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
2,624
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
2,624
2.5%
-1.0pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
2,398
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
2,398
2.3%
-1.3pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+9,769
+2.2pp
Employed full-time
+777
-3.6pp
Employed part-time
+2,121
-0.5pp
Employed, away from work
+6,861
+6.3pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-1,730
-2.2pp
Looking for full-time work
-720
-1.0pp
Looking for part-time work
-1,011
-1.3pp
Data table
Employment status for Wollongong (C). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 98,020 | 95.1% | 95.4% | 88,251 | 92.9% | 93.4% | +9,769 | +2.2pp |
| Employed full-time | 53,221 | 51.6% | 54.5% | 52,444 | 55.2% | 55.2% | +777 | -3.6pp |
| Employed part-time | 33,183 | 32.2% | 33.7% | 31,062 | 32.7% | 32.8% | +2,121 | -0.5pp |
| Employed, away from work | 11,612 | 11.3% | 7.3% | 4,751 | 5.0% | 5.4% | +6,861 | +6.3pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 5,023 | 4.9% | 4.6% | 6,753 | 7.1% | 6.6% | -1,730 | -2.2pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 2,624 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 3,344 | 3.5% | 3.9% | -720 | -1.0pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 2,398 | 2.3% | 2.0% | 3,409 | 3.6% | 2.7% | -1,011 | -1.3pp |
| Total labour force | 103,044 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 95,007 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +8,037 | 0.0pp |