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 Cooktown, accounting for 60.1% (640 people). This share was higher than Cook (S) (47.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 36 people and 3.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Cooktown - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Cooktown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cook (S) and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Cooktown, with comparison markers for Cook (S).

Cooktown
Cook (S)

Train

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Bus

2021 count

3

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

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

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

640

% of total

60.1%

Change from 2016

-3.6pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

87

% of total

8.2%

Change from 2016

+2.0pp

Truck

2021 count

9

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Motorbike

2021 count

4

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

5

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Walked only

2021 count

88

% of total

8.3%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

Other

2021 count

12

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Worked at home

2021 count

87

% of total

8.2%

Change from 2016

+3.3pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

107

% of total

10.0%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

Not stated

2021 count

23

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

+1.2pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Cooktown. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cook (S).

Method of travel to work for Cooktown. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cook (S).
Method of travel to work for Cooktown. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cook (S).
Category20212016Change
Count%Cook (S)%Count%Cook (S)%Countpp
Train00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Bus30.3%4.4%30.3%3.2%00.0pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.3%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share00.0%0.2%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Car - as driver64060.1%47.4%66363.7%52.7%-23-3.6pp
Car - as passenger878.2%7.9%646.2%6.0%+23+2.0pp
Truck90.8%1.0%222.1%2.3%-13-1.3pp
Motorbike40.4%0.3%30.3%0.6%+1+0.1pp
Bicycle50.5%0.7%121.2%0.6%-7-0.7pp
Walked only888.3%15.0%10410.0%15.4%-16-1.7pp
Other121.1%3.1%222.1%2.9%-10-1.0pp
Worked at home878.2%9.1%514.9%7.1%+36+3.3pp
Did not go to work10710.0%8.1%868.3%7.8%+21+1.7pp
Not stated232.2%2.6%101.0%1.5%+13+1.2pp
Total employed persons aged 15+1,065100.0%100.0%1,040100.0%100.0%+250.0pp