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 Abbotsford (Vic.), accounting for 96% (6,223 people). This share was lower than Yarra (C) (96.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 1,052 people and 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Abbotsford (Vic.) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Abbotsford (Vic.) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Yarra (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Abbotsford (Vic.), with comparison markers for Yarra (C).
Employed
2021 count
6,223
% of total
96.0%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
6,223
96.0%
+1.4pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
4,307
% of total
66.5%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
4,307
66.5%
-1.9pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
1,564
% of total
24.1%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
1,564
24.1%
+1.3pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
355
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
355
5.5%
+1.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
257
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
257
4.0%
-1.3pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
136
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
136
2.1%
-0.8pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
123
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
123
1.9%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
+1,052
+1.4pp
Employed full-time
+568
-1.9pp
Employed part-time
+317
+1.3pp
Employed, away from work
+158
+1.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-34
-1.3pp
Looking for full-time work
-21
-0.8pp
Looking for part-time work
-8
-0.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Abbotsford (Vic.). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Yarra (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Yarra (C)% | Count | % | Yarra (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Employed | 6,223 | 96.0% | 96.2% | 5,171 | 94.6% | 94.7% | +1,052 | +1.4pp |
| Employed full-time | 4,307 | 66.5% | 65.2% | 3,739 | 68.4% | 66.0% | +568 | -1.9pp |
| Employed part-time | 1,564 | 24.1% | 25.7% | 1,247 | 22.8% | 24.8% | +317 | +1.3pp |
| Employed, away from work | 355 | 5.5% | 5.3% | 197 | 3.6% | 4.0% | +158 | +1.9pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 257 | 4.0% | 3.8% | 291 | 5.3% | 5.3% | -34 | -1.3pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 136 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 157 | 2.9% | 2.9% | -21 | -0.8pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 123 | 1.9% | 1.7% | 131 | 2.4% | 2.3% | -8 | -0.5pp |
| Total labour force | 6,479 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,468 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,011 | 0.0pp |