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 (A), accounting for 59% (12,260 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (60.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 2,165 people and 9.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Ballina (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Ballina (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Ballina (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Train
2021 count
17
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17
0.1%
0.0pp
Bus
2021 count
80
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
80
0.4%
-0.3pp
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
8
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
8
0.0%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
12,260
% of total
59.0%
Change from 2016
-9.4pp
12,260
59.0%
-9.4pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
737
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
737
3.5%
-1.0pp
Truck
2021 count
184
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
184
0.9%
-0.3pp
Motorbike
2021 count
71
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
71
0.3%
-0.3pp
Bicycle
2021 count
225
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
225
1.1%
-0.1pp
Walked only
2021 count
576
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
576
2.8%
-0.3pp
Other
2021 count
218
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
218
1.0%
-0.5pp
Worked at home
2021 count
3,467
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
+9.2pp
3,467
16.7%
+9.2pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
2,826
% of total
13.6%
Change from 2016
+3.7pp
2,826
13.6%
+3.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
114
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
114
0.5%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-7
0.0pp
Bus
-39
-0.3pp
Tram
-3
0.0pp
Ferry
-5
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+2
0.0pp
Car - as driver
+314
-9.4pp
Car - as passenger
-51
-1.0pp
Truck
-18
-0.3pp
Motorbike
-37
-0.3pp
Bicycle
+12
-0.1pp
Walked only
+28
-0.3pp
Other
-39
-0.5pp
Worked at home
+2,165
+9.2pp
Did not go to work
+1,089
+3.7pp
Not stated
-96
-0.7pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Ballina (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 17 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 24 | 0.1% | 0.9% | -7 | 0.0pp |
| Bus | 80 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 119 | 0.7% | 0.9% | -39 | -0.3pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 5 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 8 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 6 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 12,260 | 59.0% | 60.3% | 11,946 | 68.4% | 68.4% | +314 | -9.4pp |
| Car - as passenger | 737 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 788 | 4.5% | 5.0% | -51 | -1.0pp |
| Truck | 184 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 202 | 1.2% | 1.2% | -18 | -0.3pp |
| Motorbike | 71 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 108 | 0.6% | 0.6% | -37 | -0.3pp |
| Bicycle | 225 | 1.1% | 0.4% | 213 | 1.2% | 0.6% | +12 | -0.1pp |
| Walked only | 576 | 2.8% | 2.9% | 548 | 3.1% | 3.5% | +28 | -0.3pp |
| Other | 218 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 257 | 1.5% | 1.3% | -39 | -0.5pp |
| Worked at home | 3,467 | 16.7% | 15.7% | 1,302 | 7.5% | 5.8% | +2,165 | +9.2pp |
| Did not go to work | 2,826 | 13.6% | 12.5% | 1,737 | 9.9% | 10.5% | +1,089 | +3.7pp |
| Not stated | 114 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 210 | 1.2% | 1.2% | -96 | -0.7pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 20,783 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 17,468 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,315 | 0.0pp |