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 Balmain, accounting for 60.9% (3,479 people). This share was higher than Inner West (A) (52.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 3,063 people and 53.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Balmain - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Balmain in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Inner West (A) and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Balmain, with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
Train
2021 count
39
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-4.4pp
39
0.7%
-4.4pp
Bus
2021 count
167
% of total
2.9%
Change from 2016
-20.0pp
167
2.9%
-20.0pp
Tram
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
0
0.0%
-0.1pp
Ferry
2021 count
28
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-5.3pp
28
0.5%
-5.3pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
8
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
8
0.1%
-0.6pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
1,022
% of total
17.9%
Change from 2016
-18.0pp
1,022
17.9%
-18.0pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
55
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
55
1.0%
-1.6pp
Truck
2021 count
10
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10
0.2%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
27
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
27
0.5%
-0.8pp
Bicycle
2021 count
54
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
54
0.9%
-1.6pp
Walked only
2021 count
215
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
215
3.8%
-2.3pp
Other
2021 count
32
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
32
0.6%
-1.1pp
Worked at home
2021 count
3,479
% of total
60.9%
Change from 2016
+53.5pp
3,479
60.9%
+53.5pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
560
% of total
9.8%
Change from 2016
+2.6pp
560
9.8%
+2.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
19
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
19
0.3%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-246
-4.4pp
Bus
-1,120
-20.0pp
Tram
-5
-0.1pp
Ferry
-296
-5.3pp
Taxi/ride-share
-33
-0.6pp
Car - as driver
-998
-18.0pp
Car - as passenger
-91
-1.6pp
Truck
-1
0.0pp
Motorbike
-46
-0.8pp
Bicycle
-85
-1.6pp
Walked only
-127
-2.3pp
Other
-63
-1.1pp
Worked at home
+3,063
+53.5pp
Did not go to work
+154
+2.6pp
Not stated
-14
-0.3pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Balmain. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Inner West (A).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | % | Inner West (A)% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 39 | 0.7% | 4.9% | 285 | 5.1% | 24.9% | -246 | -4.4pp |
| Bus | 167 | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1,287 | 22.9% | 10.9% | -1,120 | -20.0pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | 5 | 0.1% | 1.4% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Ferry | 28 | 0.5% | 0.1% | 324 | 5.8% | 0.7% | -296 | -5.3pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 8 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 41 | 0.7% | 0.4% | -33 | -0.6pp |
| Car - as driver | 1,022 | 17.9% | 20.6% | 2,020 | 35.9% | 35.4% | -998 | -18.0pp |
| Car - as passenger | 55 | 1.0% | 1.5% | 146 | 2.6% | 2.6% | -91 | -1.6pp |
| Truck | 10 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 11 | 0.2% | 0.3% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 27 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 73 | 1.3% | 1.2% | -46 | -0.8pp |
| Bicycle | 54 | 0.9% | 1.1% | 139 | 2.5% | 2.6% | -85 | -1.6pp |
| Walked only | 215 | 3.8% | 3.4% | 342 | 6.1% | 5.2% | -127 | -2.3pp |
| Other | 32 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 95 | 1.7% | 1.2% | -63 | -1.1pp |
| Worked at home | 3,479 | 60.9% | 52.7% | 416 | 7.4% | 4.6% | +3,063 | +53.5pp |
| Did not go to work | 560 | 9.8% | 11.6% | 406 | 7.2% | 7.7% | +154 | +2.6pp |
| Not stated | 19 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 33 | 0.6% | 0.7% | -14 | -0.3pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 5,715 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,623 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +92 | 0.0pp |