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 Smithfield (Qld), accounting for 59.2% (2,018 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (58.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in train, which decreased by 572 people and 20.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Smithfield (Qld) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Smithfield (Qld) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Smithfield (Qld), with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Train
2021 count
3
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-20.5pp
3
0.1%
-20.5pp
Bus
2021 count
40
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
40
1.2%
+0.2pp
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
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
5
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5
0.1%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
2,018
% of total
59.2%
Change from 2016
+6.0pp
2,018
59.2%
+6.0pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
149
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
149
4.4%
+0.9pp
Truck
2021 count
21
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
21
0.6%
+0.3pp
Motorbike
2021 count
18
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
18
0.5%
-0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
27
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
27
0.8%
-1.8pp
Walked only
2021 count
58
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
58
1.7%
-1.2pp
Other
2021 count
63
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
63
1.8%
+1.3pp
Worked at home
2021 count
416
% of total
12.2%
Change from 2016
+6.8pp
416
12.2%
+6.8pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
585
% of total
17.2%
Change from 2016
+8.4pp
585
17.2%
+8.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
8
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
8
0.2%
-0.1pp
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-572
-20.5pp
Bus
+12
+0.2pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+1
0.0pp
Car - as driver
+532
+6.0pp
Car - as passenger
+51
+0.9pp
Truck
+14
+0.3pp
Motorbike
-1
-0.2pp
Bicycle
-45
-1.8pp
Walked only
-23
-1.2pp
Other
+50
+1.3pp
Worked at home
+264
+6.8pp
Did not go to work
+338
+8.4pp
Not stated
-1
-0.1pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Smithfield (Qld). 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 | 3 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 575 | 20.6% | 0.1% | -572 | -20.5pp |
| Bus | 40 | 1.2% | 1.3% | 28 | 1.0% | 2.1% | +12 | +0.2pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 5 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 2,018 | 59.2% | 58.1% | 1,486 | 53.2% | 68.3% | +532 | +6.0pp |
| Car - as passenger | 149 | 4.4% | 5.0% | 98 | 3.5% | 6.1% | +51 | +0.9pp |
| Truck | 21 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 7 | 0.3% | 0.7% | +14 | +0.3pp |
| Motorbike | 18 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 19 | 0.7% | 0.9% | -1 | -0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 27 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 72 | 2.6% | 1.9% | -45 | -1.8pp |
| Walked only | 58 | 1.7% | 2.5% | 81 | 2.9% | 3.3% | -23 | -1.2pp |
| Other | 63 | 1.8% | 1.8% | 13 | 0.5% | 2.0% | +50 | +1.3pp |
| Worked at home | 416 | 12.2% | 11.8% | 152 | 5.4% | 3.9% | +264 | +6.8pp |
| Did not go to work | 585 | 17.2% | 16.4% | 247 | 8.8% | 9.4% | +338 | +8.4pp |
| Not stated | 8 | 0.2% | 0.5% | 9 | 0.3% | 1.0% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 3,411 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,791 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +620 | 0.0pp |