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 Ashburton (S), accounting for 36.8% (1,407 people). This share was lower than Regional WA (62.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in bus, which decreased by 3,143 people and 24.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Ashburton (S) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Ashburton (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Chart view
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ashburton (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Train
2021 count
5
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5
0.1%
0.0pp
Bus
2021 count
923
% of total
24.2%
Change from 2016
-24.8pp
923
24.2%
-24.8pp
Tram
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
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
10
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
10
0.3%
+0.2pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
1,407
% of total
36.8%
Change from 2016
+17.4pp
1,407
36.8%
+17.4pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
231
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
231
6.0%
+0.9pp
Truck
2021 count
28
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
28
0.7%
+0.2pp
Motorbike
2021 count
14
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
14
0.4%
+0.3pp
Bicycle
2021 count
45
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
45
1.2%
+0.4pp
Walked only
2021 count
267
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
267
7.0%
-0.4pp
Other
2021 count
241
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
241
6.3%
+0.6pp
Worked at home
2021 count
105
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
105
2.7%
+1.8pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
501
% of total
13.1%
Change from 2016
+5.5pp
501
13.1%
+5.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
42
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
42
1.1%
-2.2pp
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-3
0.0pp
Bus
-3,143
-24.8pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
-4
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
0
+0.2pp
Car - as driver
-199
+17.4pp
Car - as passenger
-190
+0.9pp
Truck
-17
+0.2pp
Motorbike
+9
+0.3pp
Bicycle
-24
+0.4pp
Walked only
-349
-0.4pp
Other
-236
+0.6pp
Worked at home
+34
+1.8pp
Did not go to work
-128
+5.5pp
Not stated
-228
-2.2pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Ashburton (S). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 5 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 8 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Bus | 923 | 24.2% | 2.7% | 4,066 | 49.0% | 4.7% | -3,143 | -24.8pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -4 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 10 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 10 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0 | +0.2pp |
| Car - as driver | 1,407 | 36.8% | 62.6% | 1,606 | 19.4% | 60.4% | -199 | +17.4pp |
| Car - as passenger | 231 | 6.0% | 5.5% | 421 | 5.1% | 5.9% | -190 | +0.9pp |
| Truck | 28 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 45 | 0.5% | 1.0% | -17 | +0.2pp |
| Motorbike | 14 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 5 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +9 | +0.3pp |
| Bicycle | 45 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 69 | 0.8% | 1.0% | -24 | +0.4pp |
| Walked only | 267 | 7.0% | 4.5% | 616 | 7.4% | 5.4% | -349 | -0.4pp |
| Other | 241 | 6.3% | 2.6% | 477 | 5.7% | 2.4% | -236 | +0.6pp |
| Worked at home | 105 | 2.7% | 7.1% | 71 | 0.9% | 5.8% | +34 | +1.8pp |
| Did not go to work | 501 | 13.1% | 11.8% | 629 | 7.6% | 10.7% | -128 | +5.5pp |
| Not stated | 42 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 270 | 3.3% | 1.7% | -228 | -2.2pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 3,819 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,297 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -4,478 | 0.0pp |