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Western Australia Parliamentary LibraryCommunity profile

South Metropolitan Region

Employment status

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356,921 people living in South Metropolitan Region in 2021 were employed, of which 60% worked full-time and 34% part-time.

South Metropolitan Region'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
South Metropolitan Region - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)20212016Change
Labour force statusNumber%Mining and Pastoral Region %Number%Mining and Pastoral Region %2016 to 2021
Total labour force (Participation rate)377,32665.862.2334,72963.964.8+42,597
Not in the labour force167,73829.220.8155,88129.720.7+11,857
Labour force status not stated28,7915.016.933,3796.414.5-4,588
Total persons aged 15+573,855100.0100.0523,991100.0100.0+49,864
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information
Employment status
South Metropolitan Region - Persons in the labour force (Usual residence)20212016Change
Employment statusNumber%Mining and Pastoral Region %Number%Mining and Pastoral Region %2016 to 2021
Employed356,92194.695.9309,10892.372.2+47,813
Employed full-time214,02656.768.0188,04056.268.9+25,986
Employed part-time122,81532.520.1101,96330.518.0+20,852
Employed, away from work20,0805.37.916,0414.87.1+4,039
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)20,4055.44.128,7998.64.7-8,394
Looking for full-time work10,1962.72.616,6785.04.3-6,482
Looking for part-time work10,2092.71.512,0073.61.7-1,798
Total labour force377,326100.0100.0334,729100.0100.0+42,597
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

The size of South Metropolitan Region's labour force in 2021 was 377,326, of which 122,815 were employed part-time and 214,026 were full time workers.

Analysis of the employment status (as a percentage of the labour force) in South Metropolitan Region in 2021 compared to Mining and Pastoral Region shows that there was a lower proportion in employment, and a higher proportion unemployed. Overall, 94.6% of the labour force was employed, and 5.4% unemployed, compared with 95.9% and 4.1% respectively for Mining and Pastoral Region.

Analysis of the labour force participation rate of the population in South Metropolitan Region in 2021 shows that there was a higher proportion in the labour force (65.8%) compared with Mining and Pastoral Region (62.2%).

Emerging groups

Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people employed in South Metropolitan Region showed an increase of 47,813, and the number unemployed showed a decrease of 8,394. In the same period, the number of people in the labour force showed an increase of 42,597 or 12.7%.

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