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 Gold Coast (C), accounting for 62.9% (191,751 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (64.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 26,782 people and 7.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Gold Coast (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Gold Coast (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Chart view
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Gold Coast (C), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Train
2021 count
3,358
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
3,358
1.1%
-0.7pp
Bus
2021 count
2,970
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
2,970
1.0%
-0.6pp
Tram
2021 count
1,640
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,640
0.5%
-0.1pp
Ferry
2021 count
73
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
73
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
624
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
624
0.2%
+0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
191,751
% of total
62.9%
Change from 2016
-6.0pp
191,751
62.9%
-6.0pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
11,967
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
11,967
3.9%
-0.9pp
Truck
2021 count
1,988
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,988
0.7%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
1,720
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,720
0.6%
-0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
1,991
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
1,991
0.7%
-0.1pp
Walked only
2021 count
6,181
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
6,181
2.0%
-0.6pp
Other
2021 count
3,938
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
3,938
1.3%
-0.2pp
Worked at home
2021 count
42,189
% of total
13.8%
Change from 2016
+7.9pp
42,189
13.8%
+7.9pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
33,304
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
33,304
10.9%
+2.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,398
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,398
0.5%
-0.3pp
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-1,391
-0.7pp
Bus
-1,201
-0.6pp
Tram
-3
-0.1pp
Ferry
+5
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+312
+0.1pp
Car - as driver
+12,358
-6.0pp
Car - as passenger
-556
-0.9pp
Truck
+28
-0.1pp
Motorbike
-329
-0.2pp
Bicycle
-183
-0.1pp
Walked only
-559
-0.6pp
Other
+19
-0.2pp
Worked at home
+26,782
+7.9pp
Did not go to work
+10,040
+2.0pp
Not stated
-781
-0.3pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Gold Coast (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 3,358 | 1.1% | 0.4% | 4,749 | 1.8% | 0.6% | -1,391 | -0.7pp |
| Bus | 2,970 | 1.0% | 1.1% | 4,171 | 1.6% | 1.7% | -1,201 | -0.6pp |
| Tram | 1,640 | 0.5% | 0.1% | 1,643 | 0.6% | 0.2% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Ferry | 73 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 68 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +5 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 624 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 312 | 0.1% | 0.2% | +312 | +0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 191,751 | 62.9% | 64.2% | 179,393 | 68.9% | 67.0% | +12,358 | -6.0pp |
| Car - as passenger | 11,967 | 3.9% | 4.9% | 12,523 | 4.8% | 5.5% | -556 | -0.9pp |
| Truck | 1,988 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1,960 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +28 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 1,720 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 2,049 | 0.8% | 0.8% | -329 | -0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 1,991 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 2,174 | 0.8% | 0.9% | -183 | -0.1pp |
| Walked only | 6,181 | 2.0% | 3.0% | 6,740 | 2.6% | 3.7% | -559 | -0.6pp |
| Other | 3,938 | 1.3% | 1.5% | 3,919 | 1.5% | 1.7% | +19 | -0.2pp |
| Worked at home | 42,189 | 13.8% | 10.6% | 15,407 | 5.9% | 6.0% | +26,782 | +7.9pp |
| Did not go to work | 33,304 | 10.9% | 11.2% | 23,264 | 8.9% | 9.7% | +10,040 | +2.0pp |
| Not stated | 1,398 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 2,179 | 0.8% | 1.0% | -781 | -0.3pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 305,092 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 260,551 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +44,541 | 0.0pp |