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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Sydney

Employment status

2,430,703 people living in Greater Sydney in 2021 were employed, of which 58% worked full-time and 29% part-time.

Greater Sydney'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.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'Last week did the person have a full time or part time job of any kind?'

Labour force status
Greater Sydney - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)20212006Change
Labour force statusNumber%Victoria %Number%Victoria %2006 to 2021
Total labour force (Participation rate)2,560,24560.062.42,010,26160.760.4+549,984
Not in the labour force1,477,14734.632.21,052,83931.833.4+424,308
Labour force status not stated230,5515.45.3250,7987.66.2-20,247
Total persons aged 15+4,267,943100.0100.03,313,900100.0100.0+954,043
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Employment status
Greater Sydney - Persons in the labour force (Usual residence)20212006Change
Employment statusNumber%Victoria %Number%Victoria %2006 to 2021
Employed2,430,70394.995.01,903,20294.794.6+527,501
Employed full-time1,421,28355.556.21,267,38563.060.1+153,898
Employed part-time709,20027.732.3516,66525.728.4+192,535
Employed, away from work300,22011.76.5119,1505.96.1+181,070
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)129,5425.15.0107,0595.35.4+22,483
Looking for full-time work74,5982.92.665,4793.33.3+9,119
Looking for part-time work54,9442.12.441,5802.12.1+13,364
Total labour force2,560,245100.0100.02,010,261100.0100.0+549,984
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2006 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

The size of Greater Sydney's labour force in 2021 was 2,560,245, of which 709,200 were employed part-time and 1,421,283 were full time workers.

Analysis of the employment status (as a percentage of the labour force) in Greater Sydney in 2021 compared to Victoria shows that there was a similar proportion in employment, as well as a similar proportion unemployed. Overall, 94.9% of the labour force was employed, and 5.1% unemployed, compared with 95.0% and 5.0% respectively for Victoria.

Analysis of the labour force participation rate of the population in Greater Sydney in 2021 shows that there was a lower proportion in the labour force (60.0%) compared with Victoria (62.4%).

Emerging groups

Between 2006 and 2021, the number of people employed in Greater Sydney showed an increase of 527,501, and the number unemployed showed an increase of 22,483. In the same period, the number of people in the labour force showed an increase of 549,984 or 27.4%.

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