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 Inner West (A), accounting for 52.7% (53,838 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 49,220 people and 48.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Inner West (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Inner West (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Inner West (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Train
2021 count
4,978
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-20.0pp
4,978
4.9%
-20.0pp
Bus
2021 count
1,915
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-9.0pp
1,915
1.9%
-9.0pp
Tram
2021 count
165
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
165
0.2%
-1.2pp
Ferry
2021 count
87
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
87
0.1%
-0.6pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
232
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
232
0.2%
-0.2pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
21,050
% of total
20.6%
Change from 2016
-14.8pp
21,050
20.6%
-14.8pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
1,576
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
1,576
1.5%
-1.1pp
Truck
2021 count
237
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
237
0.2%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
629
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
629
0.6%
-0.6pp
Bicycle
2021 count
1,157
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,157
1.1%
-1.5pp
Walked only
2021 count
3,487
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
3,487
3.4%
-1.8pp
Other
2021 count
725
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
725
0.7%
-0.5pp
Worked at home
2021 count
53,838
% of total
52.7%
Change from 2016
+48.1pp
53,838
52.7%
+48.1pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
11,849
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
+3.9pp
11,849
11.6%
+3.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
291
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
291
0.3%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-19,805
-20.0pp
Bus
-8,939
-9.0pp
Tram
-1,266
-1.2pp
Ferry
-644
-0.6pp
Taxi/ride-share
-147
-0.2pp
Car - as driver
-14,175
-14.8pp
Car - as passenger
-1,060
-1.1pp
Truck
-106
-0.1pp
Motorbike
-571
-0.6pp
Bicycle
-1,477
-1.5pp
Walked only
-1,694
-1.8pp
Other
-474
-0.5pp
Worked at home
+49,220
+48.1pp
Did not go to work
+4,218
+3.9pp
Not stated
-441
-0.4pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Inner West (A). 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 | 4,978 | 4.9% | 4.1% | 24,783 | 24.9% | 16.2% | -19,805 | -20.0pp |
| Bus | 1,915 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 10,854 | 10.9% | 6.1% | -8,939 | -9.0pp |
| Tram | 165 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 1,431 | 1.4% | 0.1% | -1,266 | -1.2pp |
| Ferry | 87 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 731 | 0.7% | 0.3% | -644 | -0.6pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 232 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 379 | 0.4% | 0.2% | -147 | -0.2pp |
| Car - as driver | 21,050 | 20.6% | 34.2% | 35,225 | 35.4% | 52.7% | -14,175 | -14.8pp |
| Car - as passenger | 1,576 | 1.5% | 2.6% | 2,636 | 2.6% | 3.9% | -1,060 | -1.1pp |
| Truck | 237 | 0.2% | 0.6% | 343 | 0.3% | 0.9% | -106 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 629 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 1,200 | 1.2% | 0.7% | -571 | -0.6pp |
| Bicycle | 1,157 | 1.1% | 0.4% | 2,634 | 2.6% | 0.7% | -1,477 | -1.5pp |
| Walked only | 3,487 | 3.4% | 2.3% | 5,181 | 5.2% | 4.0% | -1,694 | -1.8pp |
| Other | 725 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1,199 | 1.2% | 1.1% | -474 | -0.5pp |
| Worked at home | 53,838 | 52.7% | 38.9% | 4,618 | 4.6% | 4.4% | +49,220 | +48.1pp |
| Did not go to work | 11,849 | 11.6% | 13.6% | 7,631 | 7.7% | 7.8% | +4,218 | +3.9pp |
| Not stated | 291 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 732 | 0.7% | 0.9% | -441 | -0.4pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 102,216 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 99,577 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,639 | 0.0pp |