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 Blacktown (C), accounting for 40% (69,985 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (34.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 54,132 people and 30.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Blacktown (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Blacktown (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Blacktown (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Blacktown (C)
Greater Sydney

Train

2021 count

8,069

% of total

4.6%

Change from 2016

-11.1pp

Bus

2021 count

1,886

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-2.9pp

Tram

2021 count

19

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

11

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

293

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

69,985

% of total

40.0%

Change from 2016

-20.7pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

6,123

% of total

3.5%

Change from 2016

-1.6pp

Truck

2021 count

1,037

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Motorbike

2021 count

413

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Bicycle

2021 count

201

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

1,231

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Other

2021 count

1,587

% of total

0.9%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Worked at home

2021 count

57,975

% of total

33.1%

Change from 2016

+30.6pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

25,253

% of total

14.4%

Change from 2016

+7.3pp

Not stated

2021 count

849

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Blacktown (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Method of travel to work for Blacktown (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Method of travel to work for Blacktown (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Train8,0694.6%4.1%23,72615.7%16.2%-15,657-11.1pp
Bus1,8861.1%1.4%6,0854.0%6.1%-4,199-2.9pp
Tram190.0%0.1%220.0%0.1%-30.0pp
Ferry110.0%0.0%140.0%0.3%-30.0pp
Taxi/ride-share2930.2%0.1%2920.2%0.2%+10.0pp
Car - as driver69,98540.0%34.2%91,92260.7%52.7%-21,937-20.7pp
Car - as passenger6,1233.5%2.6%7,6695.1%3.9%-1,546-1.6pp
Truck1,0370.6%0.6%1,4731.0%0.9%-436-0.4pp
Motorbike4130.2%0.4%6140.4%0.7%-201-0.2pp
Bicycle2010.1%0.4%2910.2%0.7%-90-0.1pp
Walked only1,2310.7%2.3%1,7171.1%4.0%-486-0.4pp
Other1,5870.9%0.8%1,4751.0%1.1%+112-0.1pp
Worked at home57,97533.1%38.9%3,8432.5%4.4%+54,132+30.6pp
Did not go to work25,25314.4%13.6%10,7437.1%7.8%+14,510+7.3pp
Not stated8490.5%0.4%1,5901.0%0.9%-741-0.5pp
Total employed persons aged 15+174,932100.0%100.0%151,476100.0%100.0%+23,4560.0pp