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 Prairiewood, accounting for 43.1% (474 people). This share was lower than Fairfield (C) (47.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 456 people, while its share fell by 21.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Prairiewood - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Prairiewood in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Fairfield (C) and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Prairiewood, with comparison markers for Fairfield (C).

Prairiewood
Fairfield (C)

Train

2021 count

16

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

Bus

2021 count

4

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

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

474

% of total

43.1%

Change from 2016

-21.2pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

46

% of total

4.2%

Change from 2016

+4.2pp

Truck

2021 count

12

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Motorbike

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Bicycle

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Walked only

2021 count

12

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

Other

2021 count

19

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

+1.7pp

Worked at home

2021 count

327

% of total

29.8%

Change from 2016

-5.9pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

186

% of total

16.9%

Change from 2016

+16.9pp

Not stated

2021 count

3

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Prairiewood. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).

Method of travel to work for Prairiewood. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Method of travel to work for Prairiewood. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Fairfield (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Fairfield (C)%Count%Fairfield (C)%Countpp
Train161.5%3.4%00.0%12.8%+16+1.5pp
Bus40.4%0.8%00.0%1.9%+4+0.4pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share00.0%0.1%00.0%0.1%00.0pp
Car - as driver47443.1%47.5%1864.3%63.9%+456-21.2pp
Car - as passenger464.2%4.3%00.0%6.9%+46+4.2pp
Truck121.1%1.0%00.0%1.6%+12+1.1pp
Motorbike00.0%0.2%00.0%0.2%00.0pp
Bicycle00.0%0.2%00.0%0.2%00.0pp
Walked only121.1%1.3%00.0%1.7%+12+1.1pp
Other191.7%1.2%00.0%1.2%+19+1.7pp
Worked at home32729.8%23.5%1035.7%2.3%+317-5.9pp
Did not go to work18616.9%16.0%00.0%5.8%+186+16.9pp
Not stated30.3%0.6%00.0%1.4%+3+0.3pp
Total employed persons aged 15+1,099100.0%100.0%28100.0%100.0%+1,0710.0pp