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Cumberland Council area

Employment status

86,835 people living in Cumberland Council area in 2016 were employed, of which 63% worked full-time and 31% part-time.

Cumberland Council area'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
Cumberland Council area - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)20162011Change
Labour force statusNumber%Western Sydney (LGA) %Number%Western Sydney (LGA) %2011 to 2016
Total labour force (Participation rate)95,93955.959.983,08654.460.0+12,853
Not in the labour force65,34138.134.658,45638.334.6+6,885
Labour force status not stated10,4286.15.511,2087.35.4-781

The Greater Western Sydney Region comprises the following 13 LGA's: Blacktown (C), Blue Mountains (C), Camden (A), Campbelltown (C), Canterbury Bankstown (A), Cumberland (A), Fairfield (C), Hawkesbury (C), Liverpool (C), Parramatta (C), Penrith (C), The Hills Shire (A) and Wollondilly (A).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Employment status
Cumberland Council area - Persons in the labour force (Usual residence)20162011Change
Employment statusNumber%Western Sydney (LGA) %Number%Western Sydney (LGA) %2011 to 2016
Employed86,83590.592.975,32190.793.2+11,514
Employed full-time54,61556.960.648,97258.961.6+5,643
Employed part-time27,32228.527.520,90125.225.7+6,421
Employed, away from work4,8985.14.85,4476.65.9-549
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)9,1049.57.17,7659.36.8+1,339
Looking for full-time work5,1885.43.94,7165.74.1+472
Looking for part-time work3,9164.13.23,0493.72.7+867

The Greater Western Sydney Region comprises the following 13 LGA's: Blacktown (C), Blue Mountains (C), Camden (A), Campbelltown (C), Canterbury Bankstown (A), Cumberland (A), Fairfield (C), Hawkesbury (C), Liverpool (C), Parramatta (C), Penrith (C), The Hills Shire (A) and Wollondilly (A).

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2011 and 2016. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).

Employment status, 2016
Employment status, 2016 Employed, Western Sydney (LGA): 92.9% Employed full-time, Western Sydney (LGA): 60.6% Employed part-time, Western Sydney (LGA): 27.5% Employed, away from work, Western Sydney (LGA): 4.8% Unemployed (Unemployment rate), Western Sydney (LGA): 7.1% Looking for full-time work, Western Sydney (LGA): 3.9% Looking for part-time work, Western Sydney (LGA): 3.2% Employed, Cumberland Council area: 90.5% Employed full-time, Cumberland Council area: 56.9% Employed part-time, Cumberland Council area: 28.5% Employed, away from work, Cumberland Council area: 5.1% Unemployed (Unemployment rate), Cumberland Council area: 9.5% Looking for full-time work, Cumberland Council area: 5.4% Looking for part-time work, Cumberland Council area: 4.1%
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2016 (Usual residence data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Change in employment status, 2011 to 2016
Change in employment status, 2011 to 2016 Employed, Cumberland Council area: +11,514 Employed full-time, Cumberland Council area: +5,643 Employed part-time, Cumberland Council area: +6,421 Employed, away from work, Cumberland Council area: -549 Unemployed (Unemployment rate), Cumberland Council area: +1,339 Looking for full-time work, Cumberland Council area: +472 Looking for part-time work, Cumberland Council area: +867
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing, 2011 and 2016 (Usual residence data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).

Dominant groups

The size of Cumberland Council area's labour force in 2016 was 95,939, of which 27,322 were employed part-time and 54,615 were full time workers.

Analysis of the employment status (as a percentage of the labour force) in Cumberland Council area in 2016 compared to Western Sydney (LGA) shows that there was a lower proportion in employment, and a higher proportion unemployed. Overall, 90.5% of the labour force was employed, and 9.5% unemployed, compared with 92.9% and 7.1% respectively for Western Sydney (LGA).

Analysis of the labour force participation rate of the population in Cumberland Council area in 2016 shows that there was a lower proportion in the labour force (55.9%) compared with Western Sydney (LGA) (59.9%).

Emerging groups

Between 2011 and 2016, the number of people employed in Cumberland Council area showed an increase of 11,514, and the number unemployed showed an increase of 1,339. In the same period, the number of people in the labour force showed an increase of 12,853 or 15.5%.

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