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 North, accounting for 45.3% (1,184 people). This share was lower than Cairns (R) (58.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in did not go to work, which increased by 215 people and 7.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Cairns North - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Cairns North 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 North, 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
64
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
64
2.4%
-1.7pp
Tram
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
0
0.0%
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
29
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
29
1.1%
-0.2pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
1,184
% of total
45.3%
Change from 2016
-6.5pp
1,184
45.3%
-6.5pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
156
% of total
6.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
156
6.0%
-0.4pp
Truck
2021 count
6
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
6
0.2%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
28
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
28
1.1%
+0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
82
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
82
3.1%
-1.8pp
Walked only
2021 count
265
% of total
10.1%
Change from 2016
-3.6pp
265
10.1%
-3.6pp
Other
2021 count
67
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
67
2.6%
-0.8pp
Worked at home
2021 count
282
% of total
10.8%
Change from 2016
+7.5pp
282
10.8%
+7.5pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
445
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
+7.7pp
445
17.0%
+7.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
8
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
8
0.3%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
0
0.0pp
Bus
-37
-1.7pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
-3
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
-4
-0.2pp
Car - as driver
-99
-6.5pp
Car - as passenger
-2
-0.4pp
Truck
0
0.0pp
Motorbike
+5
+0.2pp
Bicycle
-40
-1.8pp
Walked only
-74
-3.6pp
Other
-18
-0.8pp
Worked at home
+201
+7.5pp
Did not go to work
+215
+7.7pp
Not stated
-5
-0.2pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Cairns North. 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 | 64 | 2.4% | 1.3% | 101 | 4.1% | 2.1% | -37 | -1.7pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 29 | 1.1% | 0.3% | 33 | 1.3% | 0.3% | -4 | -0.2pp |
| Car - as driver | 1,184 | 45.3% | 58.1% | 1,283 | 51.8% | 68.3% | -99 | -6.5pp |
| Car - as passenger | 156 | 6.0% | 5.0% | 158 | 6.4% | 6.1% | -2 | -0.4pp |
| Truck | 6 | 0.2% | 0.6% | 6 | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 28 | 1.1% | 0.6% | 23 | 0.9% | 0.9% | +5 | +0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 82 | 3.1% | 1.1% | 122 | 4.9% | 1.9% | -40 | -1.8pp |
| Walked only | 265 | 10.1% | 2.5% | 339 | 13.7% | 3.3% | -74 | -3.6pp |
| Other | 67 | 2.6% | 1.8% | 85 | 3.4% | 2.0% | -18 | -0.8pp |
| Worked at home | 282 | 10.8% | 11.8% | 81 | 3.3% | 3.9% | +201 | +7.5pp |
| Did not go to work | 445 | 17.0% | 16.4% | 230 | 9.3% | 9.4% | +215 | +7.7pp |
| Not stated | 8 | 0.3% | 0.5% | 13 | 0.5% | 1.0% | -5 | -0.2pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 2,616 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,477 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +139 | 0.0pp |