Western Sydney (LGA)
Employment status
1,015,052 people living in the Western Sydney (LGA) in 2016 were employed, of which 65% worked full-time and 30% part-time.
The Western Sydney (LGA)'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 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Sydney (LGA) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Labour force status | Number | % | Greater Sydney % | Number | % | Greater Sydney % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| Total labour force (Participation rate) | 1,093,116 | 59.9 | 61.6 | 979,115 | 60.0 | 61.7 | +114,001 | 13500 |
| Not in the labour force | 630,363 | 34.6 | 32.3 | 565,436 | 34.6 | 32.4 | +64,927 | 13501 |
| Labour force status not stated | 100,744 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 88,449 | 5.4 | 5.9 | +12,294 | 13502 |
| Total persons aged 15+ | 1,824,188 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,633,000 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +191,187 | |
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 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Sydney (LGA) - Persons in the labour force (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Employment status | Number | % | Greater Sydney % | Number | % | Greater Sydney % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| Employed | 1,015,052 | 92.9 | 94.0 | 912,475 | 93.2 | 94.3 | +102,577 | 13000 |
| Employed full-time | 662,659 | 60.6 | 61.2 | 603,454 | 61.6 | 62.0 | +59,205 | 13001 |
| Employed part-time | 300,194 | 27.5 | 28.2 | 251,490 | 25.7 | 26.7 | +48,703 | 13002 |
| Employed, away from work | 52,199 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 57,530 | 5.9 | 5.5 | -5,331 | 13003 |
| Unemployed (Unemployment rate) | 78,064 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 66,639 | 6.8 | 5.7 | +11,424 | 13004 |
| Looking for full-time work | 42,835 | 3.9 | 3.2 | 40,112 | 4.1 | 3.3 | +2,723 | 13005 |
| Looking for part-time work | 35,229 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 26,527 | 2.7 | 2.4 | +8,702 | 13006 |
| Total labour force | 1,093,116 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 979,115 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +114,001 | |
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 the Western Sydney (LGA)'s labour force in 2016 was 1,093,116, of which 300,194 were employed part-time and 662,659 were full time workers.
Analysis of the employment status (as a percentage of the labour force) in the Western Sydney (LGA) in 2016 compared to Greater Sydney shows that there was a lower proportion in employment, and a higher proportion unemployed. Overall, 92.9% of the labour force was employed, and 7.1% unemployed, compared with 94.0% and 6.0% respectively for Greater Sydney.
Analysis of the labour force participation rate of the population in the Western Sydney (LGA) in 2016 shows that there was a lower proportion in the labour force (59.9%) compared with Greater Sydney (61.6%).
Emerging groups
Between 2011 and 2016, the number of people employed in the Western Sydney (LGA) showed an increase of 102,577, and the number unemployed showed an increase of 11,425. In the same period, the number of people in the labour force showed an increase of 114,001 or 11.6%.