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 Cairns City, accounting for 32% (409 people). This share was lower than Cairns (R) (58.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 385 people, while its share fell by 56.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Cairns City - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Cairns City in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns City, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Train
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Bus
2021 count
16
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
16
1.3%
+1.3pp
Tram
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
7
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
7
0.5%
+0.5pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
6
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
6
0.5%
+0.5pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
409
% of total
32.0%
Change from 2016
-56.9pp
409
32.0%
-56.9pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
59
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
59
4.6%
+4.6pp
Truck
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
3
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
3
0.2%
+0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
39
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+3.1pp
39
3.1%
+3.1pp
Walked only
2021 count
288
% of total
22.5%
Change from 2016
+22.5pp
288
22.5%
+22.5pp
Other
2021 count
30
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
30
2.3%
+2.3pp
Worked at home
2021 count
171
% of total
13.4%
Change from 2016
+2.3pp
171
13.4%
+2.3pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
239
% of total
18.7%
Change from 2016
+18.7pp
239
18.7%
+18.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
11
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
11
0.9%
+0.9pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
0
0.0pp
Bus
+16
+1.3pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
+7
+0.5pp
Taxi/ride-share
+6
+0.5pp
Car - as driver
+385
-56.9pp
Car - as passenger
+59
+4.6pp
Truck
0
0.0pp
Motorbike
+3
+0.2pp
Bicycle
+39
+3.1pp
Walked only
+288
+22.5pp
Other
+30
+2.3pp
Worked at home
+168
+2.3pp
Did not go to work
+239
+18.7pp
Not stated
+11
+0.9pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Cairns City. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Bus | 16 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.1% | +16 | +1.3pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 7 | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +7 | +0.5pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 6 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% | +6 | +0.5pp |
| Car - as driver | 409 | 32.0% | 58.1% | 24 | 88.9% | 68.3% | +385 | -56.9pp |
| Car - as passenger | 59 | 4.6% | 5.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 6.1% | +59 | +4.6pp |
| Truck | 0 | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 3 | 0.2% | 0.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.9% | +3 | +0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 39 | 3.1% | 1.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.9% | +39 | +3.1pp |
| Walked only | 288 | 22.5% | 2.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 3.3% | +288 | +22.5pp |
| Other | 30 | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% | +30 | +2.3pp |
| Worked at home | 171 | 13.4% | 11.8% | 3 | 11.1% | 3.9% | +168 | +2.3pp |
| Did not go to work | 239 | 18.7% | 16.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 9.4% | +239 | +18.7pp |
| Not stated | 11 | 0.9% | 0.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% | +11 | +0.9pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 1,278 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 27 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,251 | 0.0pp |