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, working from home was the most common travel method among employed residents in Glen Eira (C), accounting for 39.7% (31,611 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (28.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 27,942 people and 34.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Glen Eira (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Glen Eira (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Glen Eira (C)
Greater Melbourne

Train

2021 count

3,958

% of total

5.0%

Change from 2016

-13.9pp

Bus

2021 count

540

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Tram

2021 count

384

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

8

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

154

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

29,198

% of total

36.7%

Change from 2016

-18.5pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

1,781

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Truck

2021 count

164

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Motorbike

2021 count

217

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

586

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Walked only

2021 count

1,462

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Other

2021 count

607

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Worked at home

2021 count

31,611

% of total

39.7%

Change from 2016

+34.4pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

8,681

% of total

10.9%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

272

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Glen Eira (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Method of travel to work for Glen Eira (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Method of travel to work for Glen Eira (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Train3,9585.0%3.6%13,16018.9%11.5%-9,202-13.9pp
Bus5400.7%0.8%9021.3%1.5%-362-0.6pp
Tram3840.5%0.8%1,0561.5%2.4%-672-1.0pp
Ferry80.0%0.0%50.0%0.0%+30.0pp
Taxi/ride-share1540.2%0.2%1310.2%0.2%+230.0pp
Car - as driver29,19836.7%46.5%38,43655.2%60.2%-9,238-18.5pp
Car - as passenger1,7812.2%3.2%2,0452.9%3.9%-264-0.7pp
Truck1640.2%0.5%2150.3%0.6%-51-0.1pp
Motorbike2170.3%0.2%2790.4%0.4%-62-0.1pp
Bicycle5860.7%0.7%1,0241.5%1.4%-438-0.8pp
Walked only1,4621.8%2.0%1,6632.4%3.0%-201-0.6pp
Other6070.8%1.0%7841.1%1.2%-177-0.3pp
Worked at home31,61139.7%28.8%3,6695.3%4.2%+27,942+34.4pp
Did not go to work8,68110.9%11.2%5,7898.3%8.7%+2,892+2.6pp
Not stated2720.3%0.4%4640.7%0.9%-192-0.4pp
Total employed persons aged 15+79,623100.0%100.0%69,622100.0%100.0%+10,0010.0pp