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 (R), accounting for 58.1% (46,270 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (64.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 6,567 people and 7.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Cairns (R) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Cairns (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Train
2021 count
38
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
38
0.0%
-0.1pp
Bus
2021 count
1,024
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,024
1.3%
-0.8pp
Tram
2021 count
3
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
36
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
36
0.0%
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
215
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
215
0.3%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
46,270
% of total
58.1%
Change from 2016
-10.2pp
46,270
58.1%
-10.2pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
3,972
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
3,972
5.0%
-1.1pp
Truck
2021 count
460
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
460
0.6%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
504
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
504
0.6%
-0.3pp
Bicycle
2021 count
905
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
905
1.1%
-0.8pp
Walked only
2021 count
1,989
% of total
2.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,989
2.5%
-0.8pp
Other
2021 count
1,419
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,419
1.8%
-0.2pp
Worked at home
2021 count
9,375
% of total
11.8%
Change from 2016
+7.9pp
9,375
11.8%
+7.9pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
13,052
% of total
16.4%
Change from 2016
+7.0pp
13,052
16.4%
+7.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
393
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
393
0.5%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-18
-0.1pp
Bus
-483
-0.8pp
Tram
-3
0.0pp
Ferry
-22
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
-3
0.0pp
Car - as driver
-3,185
-10.2pp
Car - as passenger
-451
-1.1pp
Truck
-51
-0.1pp
Motorbike
-171
-0.3pp
Bicycle
-452
-0.8pp
Walked only
-409
-0.8pp
Other
-36
-0.2pp
Worked at home
+6,567
+7.9pp
Did not go to work
+6,281
+7.0pp
Not stated
-320
-0.5pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Cairns (R). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 38 | 0.0% | 0.4% | 56 | 0.1% | 0.6% | -18 | -0.1pp |
| Bus | 1,024 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1,507 | 2.1% | 1.7% | -483 | -0.8pp |
| Tram | 3 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 6 | 0.0% | 0.2% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 36 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 58 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -22 | -0.1pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 215 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 218 | 0.3% | 0.2% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 46,270 | 58.1% | 64.2% | 49,455 | 68.3% | 67.0% | -3,185 | -10.2pp |
| Car - as passenger | 3,972 | 5.0% | 4.9% | 4,423 | 6.1% | 5.5% | -451 | -1.1pp |
| Truck | 460 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 511 | 0.7% | 1.0% | -51 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 504 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 675 | 0.9% | 0.8% | -171 | -0.3pp |
| Bicycle | 905 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 1,357 | 1.9% | 0.9% | -452 | -0.8pp |
| Walked only | 1,989 | 2.5% | 3.0% | 2,398 | 3.3% | 3.7% | -409 | -0.8pp |
| Other | 1,419 | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1,455 | 2.0% | 1.7% | -36 | -0.2pp |
| Worked at home | 9,375 | 11.8% | 10.6% | 2,808 | 3.9% | 6.0% | +6,567 | +7.9pp |
| Did not go to work | 13,052 | 16.4% | 11.2% | 6,771 | 9.4% | 9.7% | +6,281 | +7.0pp |
| Not stated | 393 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 713 | 1.0% | 1.0% | -320 | -0.5pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 79,655 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 72,411 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,244 | 0.0pp |