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 South Brisbane, accounting for 27% (2,064 people). This share was lower than Brisbane (C) (48.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 1,389 people and 16 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

South Brisbane - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Brisbane, with comparison markers for Brisbane (C).

South Brisbane
Brisbane (C)

Train

2021 count

282

% of total

3.7%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Bus

2021 count

811

% of total

10.6%

Change from 2016

-5.0pp

Tram

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

49

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

57

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

2,064

% of total

27.0%

Change from 2016

-2.2pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

214

% of total

2.8%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Truck

2021 count

12

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Motorbike

2021 count

83

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

152

% of total

2.0%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Walked only

2021 count

1,353

% of total

17.7%

Change from 2016

-9.4pp

Other

2021 count

135

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Worked at home

2021 count

1,551

% of total

20.3%

Change from 2016

+16.0pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

857

% of total

11.2%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

Not stated

2021 count

38

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for South Brisbane. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).

Method of travel to work for South Brisbane. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
Method of travel to work for South Brisbane. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Brisbane (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Brisbane (C)%Count%Brisbane (C)%Countpp
Train2823.7%3.7%1544.1%6.9%+128-0.4pp
Bus81110.6%4.6%59215.6%8.5%+219-5.0pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry490.6%0.2%350.9%0.4%+14-0.3pp
Taxi/ride-share570.7%0.4%150.4%0.2%+42+0.3pp
Car - as driver2,06427.0%48.1%1,10829.2%55.6%+956-2.2pp
Car - as passenger2142.8%3.7%1173.1%4.8%+97-0.3pp
Truck120.2%0.4%60.2%0.5%+60.0pp
Motorbike831.1%0.8%381.0%1.0%+45+0.1pp
Bicycle1522.0%1.2%1343.5%1.8%+18-1.5pp
Walked only1,35317.7%3.2%1,02927.1%4.1%+324-9.4pp
Other1351.8%1.1%561.5%1.3%+79+0.3pp
Worked at home1,55120.3%21.4%1624.3%4.8%+1,389+16.0pp
Did not go to work85711.2%10.9%3318.7%9.4%+526+2.5pp
Not stated380.5%0.3%190.5%0.6%+190.0pp
Total employed persons aged 15+7,658100.0%100.0%3,796100.0%100.0%+3,8620.0pp