South Australia
Employment status
746,117 people living in South Australia in 2016 were employed, of which 58% worked full-time and 36% part-time.
South Australia's employment statistics are an important indicator of socio-economic status. The levels of full or part-time employment, unemployment and labour force participation indicate the strength of the local economy and social characteristics of the population. Employment status is linked to a number of factors including Age Structure, which influences the number of people in the workforce; the economic base and employment opportunities available in the area and; the education and skill base of the population (Occupations, Industries, Qualifications).
The two most important measures are:
- Unemployment rate - the number of people looking for work, as a percentage of the labour force (employed and unemployed over 15)
- Participation rate - the labour force expressed as a percentage of the total population over 15
Please note that in the 2021 Census, due to the COVID pandemic and lockdowns in many areas, the proportion of people who were employed but away from work in the week before Census has increased. We have no information on whether these people were normally employed full or part time so this is shown separately.
Derived from the Census question:
'Last week did the person have a full time or part time job of any kind?'
Persons aged 15 years and over
| Labour force status | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Labour force status | Number | % | Western Australia % | Number | % | Western Australia % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| Total labour force (Participation rate) | 806,606 | 58.3 | 62.9 | 784,336 | 59.9 | 64.0 | +22,270 | 13500 |
| Not in the labour force | 501,989 | 36.3 | 29.8 | 466,425 | 35.6 | 29.4 | +35,564 | 13501 |
| Labour force status not stated | 75,066 | 5.4 | 7.3 | 58,891 | 4.5 | 6.5 | +16,175 | 13502 |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 1,383,652 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,309,652 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +74,000 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Usual residence data)
| Employment status | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia - Persons in the labour force (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Employment status | Number | % | Western Australia % | Number | % | Western Australia % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| Employed | 746,117 | 92.5 | 92.2 | 739,329 | 94.3 | 95.3 | +6,788 | 13000 |
| Employed full-time | 435,113 | 53.9 | 57.0 | 445,089 | 56.7 | 60.7 | -9,976 | 13001 |
| Employed part-time | 270,416 | 33.5 | 30.0 | 247,594 | 31.6 | 28.1 | +22,822 | 13002 |
| Employed, away from work | 40,588 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 46,646 | 5.9 | 6.4 | -6,058 | 13003 |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 60,489 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 45,007 | 5.7 | 4.7 | +15,482 | 13004 |
| Looking for full-time work | 35,453 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 27,150 | 3.5 | 2.8 | +8,303 | 13005 |
| Looking for part-time work | 25,036 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 17,857 | 2.3 | 1.9 | +7,179 | 13006 |
| Total labour force | 806,606 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 784,336 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +22,270 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Usual residence data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
The size of South Australia's labour force in 2016 was 806,606, of which 270,416 were employed part-time and 435,113 were full time workers.
Analysis of the employment status (as a percentage of the labour force) in South Australia in 2016 compared to Western Australia shows that there was a similar proportion in employment, as well as a similar proportion unemployed. Overall, 92.5% of the labour force was employed, and 7.5% unemployed, compared with 92.2% and 7.8% respectively for Western Australia.
Analysis of the labour force participation rate of the population in South Australia in 2016 shows that there was a lower proportion in the labour force (58.3%) compared with Western Australia (62.9%).
Emerging groups
Between 2011 and 2016, the number of people employed in South Australia showed an increase of 6,788, and the number unemployed showed an increase of 15,482. In the same period, the number of people in the labour force showed an increase of 22,270 or 2.8%.