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 Wongan-Ballidu (S), accounting for 97.3% (648 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (95.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Unemployed (Unemployment rate), which decreased by 28 people and 3.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Wongan-Ballidu (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Wongan-Ballidu (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wongan-Ballidu (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Employed
2021 count
648
% of total
97.3%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
648
97.3%
+2.7pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
409
% of total
61.4%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
409
61.4%
+0.8pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
193
% of total
29.0%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
193
29.0%
+0.8pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
44
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
44
6.6%
+0.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
17
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
17
2.6%
-3.7pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
13
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
13
2.0%
-2.2pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
3
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
3
0.5%
-1.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-24
+2.7pp
Employed full-time
-21
+0.8pp
Employed part-time
-7
+0.8pp
Employed, away from work
+2
+0.7pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-28
-3.7pp
Looking for full-time work
-17
-2.2pp
Looking for part-time work
-11
-1.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Wongan-Ballidu (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 648 | 97.3% | 95.8% | 672 | 94.6% | 93.6% | -24 | +2.7pp |
| Employed full-time | 409 | 61.4% | 58.7% | 430 | 60.6% | 59.1% | -21 | +0.8pp |
| Employed part-time | 193 | 29.0% | 29.7% | 200 | 28.2% | 27.8% | -7 | +0.8pp |
| Employed, away from work | 44 | 6.6% | 7.4% | 42 | 5.9% | 6.7% | +2 | +0.7pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 17 | 2.6% | 4.2% | 45 | 6.3% | 6.4% | -28 | -3.7pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 13 | 2.0% | 2.4% | 30 | 4.2% | 4.3% | -17 | -2.2pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 3 | 0.5% | 1.7% | 14 | 2.0% | 2.1% | -11 | -1.5pp |
| Total labour force | 666 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 710 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -44 | 0.0pp |