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 Cumberland (A), accounting for 36% (30,957 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (34.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 23,414 people and 27.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Cumberland (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Cumberland (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cumberland (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Train
2021 count
8,451
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
-13.5pp
8,451
9.8%
-13.5pp
Bus
2021 count
757
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
757
0.9%
-1.4pp
Tram
2021 count
10
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
4
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
197
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
197
0.2%
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
30,957
% of total
36.0%
Change from 2016
-18.0pp
30,957
36.0%
-18.0pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
3,110
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
3,110
3.6%
-1.5pp
Truck
2021 count
481
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
481
0.6%
-0.4pp
Motorbike
2021 count
259
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
259
0.3%
0.0pp
Bicycle
2021 count
184
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
184
0.2%
0.0pp
Walked only
2021 count
1,492
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,492
1.7%
-0.3pp
Other
2021 count
911
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
911
1.1%
0.0pp
Worked at home
2021 count
25,660
% of total
29.8%
Change from 2016
+27.2pp
25,660
29.8%
+27.2pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
12,907
% of total
15.0%
Change from 2016
+8.7pp
12,907
15.0%
+8.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
639
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
639
0.7%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-11,787
-13.5pp
Bus
-1,260
-1.4pp
Tram
-24
0.0pp
Ferry
-5
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
-35
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
-15,967
-18.0pp
Car - as passenger
-1,355
-1.5pp
Truck
-411
-0.4pp
Motorbike
+27
0.0pp
Bicycle
-22
0.0pp
Walked only
-262
-0.3pp
Other
-49
0.0pp
Worked at home
+23,414
+27.2pp
Did not go to work
+7,471
+8.7pp
Not stated
-549
-0.7pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Cumberland (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 8,451 | 9.8% | 4.1% | 20,238 | 23.3% | 16.2% | -11,787 | -13.5pp |
| Bus | 757 | 0.9% | 1.4% | 2,017 | 2.3% | 6.1% | -1,260 | -1.4pp |
| Tram | 10 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 34 | 0.0% | 0.1% | -24 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 4 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 9 | 0.0% | 0.3% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 197 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 232 | 0.3% | 0.2% | -35 | -0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 30,957 | 36.0% | 34.2% | 46,924 | 54.0% | 52.7% | -15,967 | -18.0pp |
| Car - as passenger | 3,110 | 3.6% | 2.6% | 4,465 | 5.1% | 3.9% | -1,355 | -1.5pp |
| Truck | 481 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 892 | 1.0% | 0.9% | -411 | -0.4pp |
| Motorbike | 259 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 232 | 0.3% | 0.7% | +27 | 0.0pp |
| Bicycle | 184 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 206 | 0.2% | 0.7% | -22 | 0.0pp |
| Walked only | 1,492 | 1.7% | 2.3% | 1,754 | 2.0% | 4.0% | -262 | -0.3pp |
| Other | 911 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 960 | 1.1% | 1.1% | -49 | 0.0pp |
| Worked at home | 25,660 | 29.8% | 38.9% | 2,246 | 2.6% | 4.4% | +23,414 | +27.2pp |
| Did not go to work | 12,907 | 15.0% | 13.6% | 5,436 | 6.3% | 7.8% | +7,471 | +8.7pp |
| Not stated | 639 | 0.7% | 0.4% | 1,188 | 1.4% | 0.9% | -549 | -0.7pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 86,019 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 86,833 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -814 | 0.0pp |