Employment flag (EMFP)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Cite
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable is used for national reporting purposes.

This variable flags whether a person is employed or unemployed/not in the labour force. This variable can be used for the calculation of the proportion of the population that is employed, as used in the Closing the Gap Target 8 – strong economic participation and development of people and their communities.

Scope

All persons aged 15 years and over

Categories

CodeCategory
1Employed
2Unemployed or not in the labour force
@Not applicable*
VOverseas visitor*

Number of categories: 4

Not applicable (@) comprises:

  • Persons whose Labour force status (LFSP) was Not stated
  • Persons under 15 years of age

*  Categories marked with an '*' are to be excluded from data extracted for national reporting purposes.

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

Last week, did the person have a job of any kind?

Last week, did the person have a job of any kind?
Last week, did Person 1 have a job of any kind? A ‘job’ means any type of work including casual, temporary, part-time or full-time work, if it was for one hour or more. More information Yes, worked for payment or profit Yes, but absent on holidays, on paid leave, on strike, or temporarily stood down Yes, unpaid work in a family business Yes, other unpaid work No, did not have a job

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: Last week, did the person have a job of any kind?
Last week, did Person 1 have a job of any kind? A ‘job’ means any type of work including casual, temporary, part-time or full-time work, if it was for one hour or more. More information Last week refers to the week before Census night – Tuesday 10 August 2021. People who did some work for which they will receive some payment (including casual, temporary or part-time work) and it was for one hour or more in the last week select the 'Yes, worked for payment or profit' response. People not working due to a COVID lockdown... • who worked at all in the four weeks before the current lockdown, select 'Yes, but absent on holidays, on paid leave, on strike, or temporarily stood down'. • who did not work in the four weeks before the current lockdown, select 'No, did not have a job'. People on paid leave, for example holiday leave, maternity leave or sick leave, should select 'Yes, but absent on holidays, on paid leave, on strike, or temporarily stood down'. People who have been on unpaid leave... • for less than four weeks and are not being paid, select ‘Yes, but absent on holidays, on paid leave, on strike, or temporarily stood down'. • for four weeks or more and are not being paid, select 'No, did not have a job'. People who are on workers' compensation and... • are planning to return to work, select ‘Yes, but absent on holidays, on paid leave, on strike, or temporarily stood down'. • won't be returning to work, select 'No, did not have a job'. People working for the dole are considered not to be in paid work and should select 'No, did not have a job'. People who are casual or freelance workers and... • worked in the week before Census night, select 'Yes, worked for payment or profit'. • did not work last week but worked at some stage in the four weeks before Census night, select ‘Yes, but absent on holidays, on paid leave, on strike, or temporarily stood down'. • did not work in the four weeks before Census night, select 'No, did not have a job'. People who work from home and... • get paid, select the appropriate 'Yes' response. • do not get paid, select 'No, did not have a job'. Retired people should select 'No, did not have a job'. This also applies to people who have never had a job.

In the main job held last week, was the person: Working for an employer; Working in own business?

This question is only applicable for people aged 15 years and over who responded 'Yes, worked for payment or profit' or 'Yes, but absent on holidays, on paid leave, on strike, or temporarily stood down' to the previous question, 'Last week, did the person have a job of any kind?'

In the main job held last week, was the person: Working for an employer; Working in own business?
In the main job held last week, was Person 1: If the person had more than one job last week, then ‘main job’ refers to the job in which the person usually works the most hours. For all persons conducting their own business, including those with their own incorporated (e.g. Pty Ltd) company, as well as sole traders, partnerships and contractors, select ‘Working in own business’. Working for an employer Working in own business

Last week, how many hours did the person work in all jobs?

Last week, how many hours did the person work in all jobs?
Last week, how many hours did Person 1 work in all jobs? Add any overtime or extra time worked and subtract any time off. More information Hours worked

More information

Additional instructions relating to the question on: Last week, how many hours did Person 1 work in all jobs?
Last week, how many hours did Person 1 work in all jobs? Add any overtime or extra time worked and subtract any time off. More information Include all hours the person worked for all jobs, even if those hours are not the hours they usually work. Include any overtime and hours spent working at home. Do not include time off work, for example, sick leave or annual leave. If the person did not work any hours, please enter '0'.

Did the person actively look for work at any time in the last four weeks?

Did the person actively look for work at any time in the last four weeks?
Did Person 1 actively look for work at any time in the last four weeks? Full-time work means 35 hours or more per week. Examples of actively looking for work include: • Writing, telephoning or applying to an employer for work • Having a job interview • Checking or registering with an employment agency • Taking steps to purchase or start a business • Advertising or tendering for work • Contacting friends or relatives in order to obtain work • Answering an advertisement for a job More information No, did not look for work Yes, looked for full-time work Yes, looked for part-time work

More information

Additional information relating to the question on: Did the person actively look for work at any time in the last four weeks?
Did Person 1 actively look for work at any time in the last four weeks? Full-time work means 35 hours or more per week. Examples of actively looking for work include: • Writing, telephoning or applying to an employer for work • Having a job interview • Checking or registering with an employment agency • Taking steps to purchase or start a business • Advertising or tendering for work • Contacting friends or relatives in order to obtain work • Answering an advertisement for a job More information All people who are not looking for work, including retired people, should select 'No, did not look for work'. Select 'No, did not look for work' if the person only looked in newspapers, on the internet or checked notice boards, and did not take any of the active steps listed in the question.

If the person had found a job, could the person have started work last week?

This question is only applicable to people aged 15 years and over who responded 'Yes, looked for full-time work' or 'Yes, looked for part-time work' to the previous question, 'Did the person actively look for work at any time in the last four weeks?

If the person had found a job, could the person have started work last week?
If Person 1 had found a job, could they have started work last week? Yes, could have started work last week No, already had a job to go to No, temporarily ill or injured No, other reason

How this variable is created

Data for this variable is created by making custom categories from Labour force status (LFSP) as shown in the table below:

Labour force status (LFSP)Employment flag (EMFP)
1 Employed, worked full-time1 Employed
2 Employed, worked part-time1 Employed
3 Employed, away from work1 Employed
4 Unemployed, looking for full-time work2 Unemployed or not in the labour force
5 Unemployed, looking for part-time work2 Unemployed or not in the labour force
6 Not in the labour force2 Unemployed or not in the labour force
& Not stated@ Not applicable*
@ Not applicable (Persons aged under 15 years)@ Not applicable*
V Overseas visitorV Overseas visitor*

History and changes

This variable was first created in 2016. For 2021, ‘Overseas visitor’ has been separated out from the ‘Not applicable’ category, into a separate category.

Data use considerations

This variable was created for National Reporting purposes. Any analyses using this variable that are for other purposes should be done with caution and with reference to the relevant inclusions and exclusions described above.

Categories marked with an '*' are to be excluded from data extracted for national reporting purposes. 

This variable is derived from the Labour force status (LFSP) variable. The non-response rate for Labour force status (LFSP) was 5.8% in 2021. This is a decrease from 6.7% in 2016.

Closing the Gap and Other National Government Reporting

This variable aims to provide data on Target 8 for the National Agreement for Closing the Gap:

  • By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 who are employed to 62 per cent.

Employment flag (EMFP), Indigenous status (INGP) and Age (AGEP) variables should be used to report on this measure. ‘Not applicable’ and ‘Overseas visitors’ categories should not be used for this measure.

For more information about ABS collections used in Closing the Gap and other National Government Reporting, see Closing the Gap and Other National Reporting.

Comparing Census with the ABS Labour Force Survey

The Census and Labour Force Survey both collect information about the labour market activity of people aged 15 years and over. While both collections seek to measure the concepts related to employment, unemployment and being outside of the labour force, there are a number of differences between them that should be considered in the use of the data. A summary of the differences between these collections is available in Comparing the 2021 Census and the Labour Force Survey.

Related variables and glossary terms

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