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 Brinsmead, accounting for 59.6% (1,784 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (58.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which decreased by 327 people and 14 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Brinsmead - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Brinsmead, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).

Brinsmead
Cairns (R)

Train

2021 count

7

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Bus

2021 count

23

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-1.2pp

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

5

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

1,784

% of total

59.6%

Change from 2016

-14.0pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

148

% of total

4.9%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Truck

2021 count

15

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Motorbike

2021 count

19

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Bicycle

2021 count

17

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Walked only

2021 count

13

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Other

2021 count

57

% of total

1.9%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Worked at home

2021 count

395

% of total

13.2%

Change from 2016

+10.0pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

501

% of total

16.7%

Change from 2016

+7.9pp

Not stated

2021 count

10

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Brinsmead. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).

Method of travel to work for Brinsmead. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
Method of travel to work for Brinsmead. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Cairns (R)%Count%Cairns (R)%Countpp
Train70.2%0.0%00.0%0.1%+7+0.2pp
Bus230.8%1.3%562.0%2.1%-33-1.2pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.0%00.0%0.1%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share50.2%0.3%90.3%0.3%-4-0.1pp
Car - as driver1,78459.6%58.1%2,11173.6%68.3%-327-14.0pp
Car - as passenger1484.9%5.0%1685.9%6.1%-20-1.0pp
Truck150.5%0.6%130.5%0.7%+20.0pp
Motorbike190.6%0.6%240.8%0.9%-5-0.2pp
Bicycle170.6%1.1%381.3%1.9%-21-0.7pp
Walked only130.4%2.5%210.7%3.3%-8-0.3pp
Other571.9%1.8%602.1%2.0%-3-0.2pp
Worked at home39513.2%11.8%933.2%3.9%+302+10.0pp
Did not go to work50116.7%16.4%2518.8%9.4%+250+7.9pp
Not stated100.3%0.5%240.8%1.0%-14-0.5pp
Total employed persons aged 15+2,994100.0%100.0%2,868100.0%100.0%+1260.0pp