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 Burnley, accounting for 97.1% (511 people). This share was higher than Yarra (C) (96.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which decreased by 2,228 people, while its share rose by 4.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Labour force status
Burnley - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises employment status for Burnley in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Yarra (C) and change since 2016.
Labour force status snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Burnley, with comparison markers for Yarra (C).
Employed
2021 count
511
% of total
97.1%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
511
97.1%
+4.4pp
Employed full-time
2021 count
356
% of total
67.7%
Change from 2016
+8.0pp
356
67.7%
+8.0pp
Employed part-time
2021 count
128
% of total
24.3%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
128
24.3%
-4.4pp
Employed, away from work
2021 count
30
% of total
5.7%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
30
5.7%
+1.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
2021 count
11
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-5.3pp
11
2.1%
-5.3pp
Looking for full-time work
2021 count
9
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
9
1.7%
-2.4pp
Looking for part-time work
2021 count
4
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-2.5pp
4
0.8%
-2.5pp
Chart view
Labour force status change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Employed
-2,228
+4.4pp
Employed full-time
-1,408
+8.0pp
Employed part-time
-719
-4.4pp
Employed, away from work
-97
+1.4pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)
-207
-5.3pp
Looking for full-time work
-112
-2.4pp
Looking for part-time work
-95
-2.5pp
Data table
Employment status for Burnley. 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 | 511 | 97.1% | 96.2% | 2,739 | 92.7% | 94.7% | -2,228 | +4.4pp |
| Employed full-time | 356 | 67.7% | 65.2% | 1,764 | 59.7% | 66.0% | -1,408 | +8.0pp |
| Employed part-time | 128 | 24.3% | 25.7% | 847 | 28.7% | 24.8% | -719 | -4.4pp |
| Employed, away from work | 30 | 5.7% | 5.3% | 127 | 4.3% | 4.0% | -97 | +1.4pp |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 11 | 2.1% | 3.8% | 218 | 7.4% | 5.3% | -207 | -5.3pp |
| Looking for full-time work | 9 | 1.7% | 2.1% | 121 | 4.1% | 2.9% | -112 | -2.4pp |
| Looking for part-time work | 4 | 0.8% | 1.7% | 99 | 3.3% | 2.3% | -95 | -2.5pp |
| Total labour force | 526 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,956 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -2,430 | 0.0pp |