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 Blue Mountains (C), accounting for 39.1% (14,203 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (34.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 10,838 people and 29.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Blue Mountains (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Blue Mountains (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 Blue Mountains (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Blue Mountains (C)
Greater Sydney

Train

2021 count

643

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

-9.5pp

Bus

2021 count

44

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Tram

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

3

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

31

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

14,203

% of total

39.1%

Change from 2016

-21.4pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

789

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

Truck

2021 count

274

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Motorbike

2021 count

87

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Bicycle

2021 count

75

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

595

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Other

2021 count

267

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Worked at home

2021 count

13,278

% of total

36.6%

Change from 2016

+29.8pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

5,858

% of total

16.1%

Change from 2016

+4.9pp

Not stated

2021 count

137

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Data table

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

Method of travel to work for Blue Mountains (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Method of travel to work for Blue Mountains (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
Train6431.8%4.1%4,06411.3%16.2%-3,421-9.5pp
Bus440.1%1.4%1540.4%6.1%-110-0.3pp
Tram00.0%0.1%70.0%0.1%-70.0pp
Ferry30.0%0.0%30.0%0.3%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share310.1%0.1%670.2%0.2%-36-0.1pp
Car - as driver14,20339.1%34.2%21,71360.5%52.7%-7,510-21.4pp
Car - as passenger7892.2%2.6%1,2213.4%3.9%-432-1.2pp
Truck2740.8%0.6%3601.0%0.9%-86-0.2pp
Motorbike870.2%0.4%1790.5%0.7%-92-0.3pp
Bicycle750.2%0.4%1200.3%0.7%-45-0.1pp
Walked only5951.6%2.3%9162.6%4.0%-321-1.0pp
Other2670.7%0.8%3641.0%1.1%-97-0.3pp
Worked at home13,27836.6%38.9%2,4406.8%4.4%+10,838+29.8pp
Did not go to work5,85816.1%13.6%4,02111.2%7.8%+1,837+4.9pp
Not stated1370.4%0.4%2360.7%0.9%-99-0.3pp
Total employed persons aged 15+36,284100.0%100.0%35,865100.0%100.0%+4190.0pp