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 Ballarat (C), accounting for 61.6% (32,688 people). This share was similar to Regional Vic. (61.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 6,512 people and 11.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Ballarat (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Ballarat (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ballarat (C), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
Train
2021 count
264
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
264
0.5%
-1.6pp
Bus
2021 count
364
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
364
0.7%
-0.3pp
Tram
2021 count
4
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
15
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
15
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
166
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
166
0.3%
+0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
32,688
% of total
61.6%
Change from 2016
-8.3pp
32,688
61.6%
-8.3pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
2,550
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
2,550
4.8%
-0.3pp
Truck
2021 count
215
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
215
0.4%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
86
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
86
0.2%
0.0pp
Bicycle
2021 count
307
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
307
0.6%
-0.1pp
Walked only
2021 count
1,261
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
1,261
2.4%
-0.5pp
Other
2021 count
445
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
445
0.8%
-0.1pp
Worked at home
2021 count
8,231
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+11.7pp
8,231
15.5%
+11.7pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
6,239
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
6,239
11.8%
+0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
262
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
262
0.5%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-661
-1.6pp
Bus
-88
-0.3pp
Tram
-4
0.0pp
Ferry
+3
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+59
+0.1pp
Car - as driver
+1,429
-8.3pp
Car - as passenger
+282
-0.3pp
Truck
-6
-0.1pp
Motorbike
-6
0.0pp
Bicycle
+4
-0.1pp
Walked only
-56
-0.5pp
Other
+51
-0.1pp
Worked at home
+6,512
+11.7pp
Did not go to work
+1,053
+0.2pp
Not stated
-171
-0.5pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Ballarat (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 264 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 925 | 2.1% | 1.4% | -661 | -1.6pp |
| Bus | 364 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 452 | 1.0% | 0.7% | -88 | -0.3pp |
| Tram | 4 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 8 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -4 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 15 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 166 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 107 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +59 | +0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 32,688 | 61.6% | 61.6% | 31,259 | 69.9% | 67.3% | +1,429 | -8.3pp |
| Car - as passenger | 2,550 | 4.8% | 4.5% | 2,268 | 5.1% | 4.6% | +282 | -0.3pp |
| Truck | 215 | 0.4% | 0.7% | 221 | 0.5% | 0.8% | -6 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 86 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 92 | 0.2% | 0.4% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| Bicycle | 307 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 303 | 0.7% | 0.7% | +4 | -0.1pp |
| Walked only | 1,261 | 2.4% | 3.3% | 1,317 | 2.9% | 3.9% | -56 | -0.5pp |
| Other | 445 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 394 | 0.9% | 1.2% | +51 | -0.1pp |
| Worked at home | 8,231 | 15.5% | 15.1% | 1,719 | 3.8% | 6.2% | +6,512 | +11.7pp |
| Did not go to work | 6,239 | 11.8% | 11.1% | 5,186 | 11.6% | 11.4% | +1,053 | +0.2pp |
| Not stated | 262 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 433 | 1.0% | 1.3% | -171 | -0.5pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 53,097 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 44,696 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +8,401 | 0.0pp |