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 Yarra Ranges (S), accounting for 96.5% (79,903 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (94.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Employed, which increased by 5,488 people and 1.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Labour force status

Yarra Ranges (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises employment status for Yarra Ranges (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.

Labour force status snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Yarra Ranges (S), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Yarra Ranges (S)
Greater Melbourne

Employed

2021 count

79,903

% of total

96.5%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Employed full-time

2021 count

45,782

% of total

55.3%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Employed part-time

2021 count

28,190

% of total

34.0%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Employed, away from work

2021 count

5,928

% of total

7.2%

Change from 2016

+1.9pp

Unemployed (Unemployment rate)

2021 count

2,941

% of total

3.6%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Looking for full-time work

2021 count

1,389

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Looking for part-time work

2021 count

1,549

% of total

1.9%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Data table

Employment status for Yarra Ranges (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Employment status for Yarra Ranges (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Employment status for Yarra Ranges (S). Labour force status. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Employed79,90396.5%94.7%74,41595.4%93.2%+5,488+1.1pp
Employed full-time45,78255.3%56.9%44,08456.5%58.0%+1,698-1.2pp
Employed part-time28,19034.0%31.6%26,16733.6%30.6%+2,023+0.4pp
Employed, away from work5,9287.2%6.2%4,1615.3%4.6%+1,767+1.9pp
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)2,9413.6%5.3%3,5724.6%6.8%-631-1.0pp
Looking for full-time work1,3891.7%2.7%1,8172.3%3.5%-428-0.6pp
Looking for part-time work1,5491.9%2.6%1,7512.2%3.3%-202-0.3pp
Total labour force82,842100.0%100.0%77,988100.0%100.0%+4,8540.0pp