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 Fairfield (C), accounting for 47.5% (30,321 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (34.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which decreased by 15,622 people and 16.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Fairfield (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Fairfield (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Fairfield (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Train
2021 count
2,192
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-9.4pp
2,192
3.4%
-9.4pp
Bus
2021 count
490
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
490
0.8%
-1.1pp
Tram
2021 count
4
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
6
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
6
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
79
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
79
0.1%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
30,321
% of total
47.5%
Change from 2016
-16.4pp
30,321
47.5%
-16.4pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
2,774
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-2.6pp
2,774
4.3%
-2.6pp
Truck
2021 count
617
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
617
1.0%
-0.6pp
Motorbike
2021 count
96
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
96
0.2%
0.0pp
Bicycle
2021 count
98
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
98
0.2%
0.0pp
Walked only
2021 count
814
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
814
1.3%
-0.4pp
Other
2021 count
738
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
738
1.2%
0.0pp
Worked at home
2021 count
14,971
% of total
23.5%
Change from 2016
+21.2pp
14,971
23.5%
+21.2pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
10,215
% of total
16.0%
Change from 2016
+10.2pp
10,215
16.0%
+10.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
413
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
413
0.6%
-0.8pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-7,031
-9.4pp
Bus
-893
-1.1pp
Tram
-13
0.0pp
Ferry
-2
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+1
0.0pp
Car - as driver
-15,622
-16.4pp
Car - as passenger
-2,154
-2.6pp
Truck
-551
-0.6pp
Motorbike
-61
0.0pp
Bicycle
-45
0.0pp
Walked only
-389
-0.4pp
Other
-128
0.0pp
Worked at home
+13,317
+21.2pp
Did not go to work
+6,067
+10.2pp
Not stated
-561
-0.8pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Fairfield (C). 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 | 2,192 | 3.4% | 4.1% | 9,223 | 12.8% | 16.2% | -7,031 | -9.4pp |
| Bus | 490 | 0.8% | 1.4% | 1,383 | 1.9% | 6.1% | -893 | -1.1pp |
| Tram | 4 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 17 | 0.0% | 0.1% | -13 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 6 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 8 | 0.0% | 0.3% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 79 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 78 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 30,321 | 47.5% | 34.2% | 45,943 | 63.9% | 52.7% | -15,622 | -16.4pp |
| Car - as passenger | 2,774 | 4.3% | 2.6% | 4,928 | 6.9% | 3.9% | -2,154 | -2.6pp |
| Truck | 617 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1,168 | 1.6% | 0.9% | -551 | -0.6pp |
| Motorbike | 96 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 157 | 0.2% | 0.7% | -61 | 0.0pp |
| Bicycle | 98 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 143 | 0.2% | 0.7% | -45 | 0.0pp |
| Walked only | 814 | 1.3% | 2.3% | 1,203 | 1.7% | 4.0% | -389 | -0.4pp |
| Other | 738 | 1.2% | 0.8% | 866 | 1.2% | 1.1% | -128 | 0.0pp |
| Worked at home | 14,971 | 23.5% | 38.9% | 1,654 | 2.3% | 4.4% | +13,317 | +21.2pp |
| Did not go to work | 10,215 | 16.0% | 13.6% | 4,148 | 5.8% | 7.8% | +6,067 | +10.2pp |
| Not stated | 413 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 974 | 1.4% | 0.9% | -561 | -0.8pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 63,828 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 71,893 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -8,065 | 0.0pp |