Employment
Method of travel to work
About this topic
Method of travel to work shows how employed residents usually got to work on Census day, including private vehicle, public transport, active travel, and working from home. It provides a snapshot of commuting behaviour rather than the full transport system.
This topic supports transport and infrastructure planning and helps show how residents access employment. The 2021 results need caution because many parts of Australia were affected by COVID-19 lockdowns, which increased working from home and reduced some other travel modes.
Interpretation notes
- Method of travel to work captures the journey to work on Census day, not a person's usual weekly travel pattern.
- It applies only to employed people and is most useful with place of work or car ownership when considering transport access.
- The 2021 Census occurred during COVID-19 restrictions in many places, so work-from-home and some travel modes need caution in trend comparisons.
Key insight
In 2021, walked only was the most common travel method among employed residents in Adelaide, accounting for 28.5% (2,598 people). This share was higher than Adelaide (C) (24%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 902 people and 8.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Adelaide - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Adelaide in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Adelaide (C) and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide, with comparison markers for Adelaide (C).
Train
2021 count
98
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
98
1.1%
-0.3pp
Bus
2021 count
895
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
895
9.8%
+1.9pp
Tram
2021 count
261
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
261
2.9%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
83
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
83
0.9%
+0.6pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
2,396
% of total
26.3%
Change from 2016
-2.9pp
2,396
26.3%
-2.9pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
294
% of total
3.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
294
3.2%
+0.4pp
Truck
2021 count
5
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
5
0.1%
+0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
68
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
68
0.7%
+0.1pp
Bicycle
2021 count
262
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
262
2.9%
-1.2pp
Walked only
2021 count
2,598
% of total
28.5%
Change from 2016
-5.1pp
2,598
28.5%
-5.1pp
Other
2021 count
129
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
129
1.4%
-0.2pp
Worked at home
2021 count
1,160
% of total
12.7%
Change from 2016
+8.4pp
1,160
12.7%
+8.4pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
832
% of total
9.1%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
832
9.1%
-1.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
40
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
40
0.4%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+13
-0.3pp
Bus
+424
+1.9pp
Tram
+88
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+66
+0.6pp
Car - as driver
+654
-2.9pp
Car - as passenger
+129
+0.4pp
Truck
+5
+0.1pp
Motorbike
+33
+0.1pp
Bicycle
+15
-1.2pp
Walked only
+593
-5.1pp
Other
+33
-0.2pp
Worked at home
+902
+8.4pp
Did not go to work
+205
-1.4pp
Not stated
-7
-0.4pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Adelaide. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Adelaide (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 98 | 1.1% | 0.9% | 85 | 1.4% | 1.2% | +13 | -0.3pp |
| Bus | 895 | 9.8% | 9.4% | 471 | 7.9% | 8.7% | +424 | +1.9pp |
| Tram | 261 | 2.9% | 2.1% | 173 | 2.9% | 1.9% | +88 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 83 | 0.9% | 0.9% | 17 | 0.3% | 0.4% | +66 | +0.6pp |
| Car - as driver | 2,396 | 26.3% | 31.3% | 1,742 | 29.2% | 35.1% | +654 | -2.9pp |
| Car - as passenger | 294 | 3.2% | 3.3% | 165 | 2.8% | 3.2% | +129 | +0.4pp |
| Truck | 5 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 68 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 35 | 0.6% | 0.6% | +33 | +0.1pp |
| Bicycle | 262 | 2.9% | 2.8% | 247 | 4.1% | 3.8% | +15 | -1.2pp |
| Walked only | 2,598 | 28.5% | 24.0% | 2,005 | 33.6% | 26.8% | +593 | -5.1pp |
| Other | 129 | 1.4% | 1.5% | 96 | 1.6% | 1.6% | +33 | -0.2pp |
| Worked at home | 1,160 | 12.7% | 12.9% | 258 | 4.3% | 4.7% | +902 | +8.4pp |
| Did not go to work | 832 | 9.1% | 9.6% | 627 | 10.5% | 11.1% | +205 | -1.4pp |
| Not stated | 40 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 47 | 0.8% | 0.9% | -7 | -0.4pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 9,121 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,968 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,153 | 0.0pp |