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 Ballina, accounting for 59.5% (2,095 people). This share was higher than Ballina (A) (59%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 260 people, while its share fell by 5 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Ballina - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Ballina in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Ballina (A) and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Ballina, with comparison markers for Ballina (A).

Ballina
Ballina (A)

Train

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Bus

2021 count

15

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Tram

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

3

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

2,095

% of total

59.5%

Change from 2016

-5.0pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

157

% of total

4.5%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Truck

2021 count

44

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Motorbike

2021 count

21

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Bicycle

2021 count

103

% of total

2.9%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Walked only

2021 count

190

% of total

5.4%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Other

2021 count

42

% of total

1.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Worked at home

2021 count

365

% of total

10.4%

Change from 2016

+6.0pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

462

% of total

13.1%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

Not stated

2021 count

24

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Ballina. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).

Method of travel to work for Ballina. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
Method of travel to work for Ballina. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Ballina (A).
Category20212016Change
Count%Ballina (A)%Count%Ballina (A)%Countpp
Train00.0%0.1%70.2%0.1%-7-0.2pp
Bus150.4%0.4%291.0%0.7%-14-0.6pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share30.1%0.0%00.0%0.0%+3+0.1pp
Car - as driver2,09559.5%59.0%1,83564.5%68.4%+260-5.0pp
Car - as passenger1574.5%3.5%1575.5%4.5%0-1.0pp
Truck441.2%0.9%381.3%1.2%+6-0.1pp
Motorbike210.6%0.3%220.8%0.6%-1-0.2pp
Bicycle1032.9%1.1%923.2%1.2%+11-0.3pp
Walked only1905.4%2.8%1695.9%3.1%+21-0.5pp
Other421.2%1.0%301.1%1.5%+12+0.1pp
Worked at home36510.4%16.7%1244.4%7.5%+241+6.0pp
Did not go to work46213.1%13.6%30010.6%9.9%+162+2.5pp
Not stated240.7%0.5%401.4%1.2%-16-0.7pp
Total employed persons aged 15+3,521100.0%100.0%2,843100.0%100.0%+6780.0pp