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Western Australia Parliamentary LibraryCommunity profile

South Perth

Employment status

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23,032 people living in South Perth in 2021 were employed, of which 60% worked full-time and 35% part-time.

South Perth'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 Perth - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)20212016Change
Labour force statusNumber%Western Australia %Number%Western Australia %2016 to 2021
Total labour force (Participation rate)24,11965.163.922,15362.362.9+1,966
Not in the labour force10,99529.729.810,81130.429.8+184
Labour force status not stated1,9565.36.32,5907.37.3-634
Total persons aged 15+37,070100.0100.035,564100.0100.0+1,506
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 Perth - Persons in the labour force (Usual residence)20212016Change
Employment statusNumber%Western Australia %Number%Western Australia %2016 to 2021
Employed23,03295.594.920,55992.892.2+2,473
Employed full-time13,83657.457.112,66457.257.0+1,172
Employed part-time8,09633.632.06,94831.430.0+1,148
Employed, away from work1,1004.65.89474.35.2+153
Unemployed (Unemployment rate)1,0874.55.11,5947.27.8-507
Looking for full-time work5352.22.78073.64.7-272
Looking for part-time work5522.32.47873.63.1-235
Total labour force24,119100.0100.022,153100.0100.0+1,966
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 Perth's labour force in 2021 was 24,119, of which 8,096 were employed part-time and 13,836 were full time workers.

Analysis of the employment status (as a percentage of the labour force) in South Perth in 2021 compared to Western Australia shows that there was a higher proportion in employment, and a lower proportion unemployed. Overall, 95.5% of the labour force was employed, and 4.5% unemployed, compared with 94.9% and 5.1% respectively for Western Australia.

Analysis of the labour force participation rate of the population in South Perth in 2021 shows that there was a higher proportion in the labour force (65.1%) compared with Western Australia (63.9%).

Emerging groups

Between 2016 and 2021, the number of people employed in South Perth showed an increase of 2,473, and the number unemployed showed a decrease of 507. In the same period, the number of people in the labour force showed an increase of 1,966 or 8.9%.

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