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, car driver was the most common travel method among employed residents in Adelaide (C), accounting for 31.3% (3,958 people). This share was lower than Greater Adelaide (63.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 1,200 people and 8.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Adelaide (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Adelaide (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.
Train
2021 count
114
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
114
0.9%
-0.3pp
Bus
2021 count
1,192
% of total
9.4%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
1,192
9.4%
+0.7pp
Tram
2021 count
267
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
267
2.1%
+0.2pp
Ferry
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
116
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
116
0.9%
+0.5pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
3,958
% of total
31.3%
Change from 2016
-3.8pp
3,958
31.3%
-3.8pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
416
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
416
3.3%
+0.1pp
Truck
2021 count
11
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
11
0.1%
+0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
91
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
91
0.7%
+0.1pp
Bicycle
2021 count
354
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
354
2.8%
-1.0pp
Walked only
2021 count
3,040
% of total
24.0%
Change from 2016
-2.8pp
3,040
24.0%
-2.8pp
Other
2021 count
187
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
187
1.5%
-0.1pp
Worked at home
2021 count
1,637
% of total
12.9%
Change from 2016
+8.2pp
1,637
12.9%
+8.2pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
1,220
% of total
9.6%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,220
9.6%
-1.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
51
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
51
0.4%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+6
-0.3pp
Bus
+381
+0.7pp
Tram
+92
+0.2pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+80
+0.5pp
Car - as driver
+704
-3.8pp
Car - as passenger
+121
+0.1pp
Truck
+11
+0.1pp
Motorbike
+31
+0.1pp
Bicycle
+5
-1.0pp
Walked only
+553
-2.8pp
Other
+42
-0.1pp
Worked at home
+1,200
+8.2pp
Did not go to work
+188
-1.5pp
Not stated
-33
-0.5pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Adelaide (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | % | Greater Adelaide% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 114 | 0.9% | 1.3% | 108 | 1.2% | 2.3% | +6 | -0.3pp |
| Bus | 1,192 | 9.4% | 4.5% | 811 | 8.7% | 5.7% | +381 | +0.7pp |
| Tram | 267 | 2.1% | 0.3% | 175 | 1.9% | 0.5% | +92 | +0.2pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 116 | 0.9% | 0.3% | 36 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +80 | +0.5pp |
| Car - as driver | 3,958 | 31.3% | 63.3% | 3,254 | 35.1% | 66.0% | +704 | -3.8pp |
| Car - as passenger | 416 | 3.3% | 4.2% | 295 | 3.2% | 4.5% | +121 | +0.1pp |
| Truck | 11 | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.5% | +11 | +0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 91 | 0.7% | 0.4% | 60 | 0.6% | 0.5% | +31 | +0.1pp |
| Bicycle | 354 | 2.8% | 1.0% | 349 | 3.8% | 1.1% | +5 | -1.0pp |
| Walked only | 3,040 | 24.0% | 1.9% | 2,487 | 26.8% | 2.2% | +553 | -2.8pp |
| Other | 187 | 1.5% | 1.3% | 145 | 1.6% | 1.4% | +42 | -0.1pp |
| Worked at home | 1,637 | 12.9% | 9.8% | 437 | 4.7% | 3.6% | +1,200 | +8.2pp |
| Did not go to work | 1,220 | 9.6% | 10.8% | 1,032 | 11.1% | 10.5% | +188 | -1.5pp |
| Not stated | 51 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 84 | 0.9% | 0.8% | -33 | -0.5pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 12,654 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 9,273 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,381 | 0.0pp |