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 Petersham, accounting for 54.5% (2,597 people). This share was higher than Inner West (A) (52.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 2,420 people and 50.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Petersham - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Petersham 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 Petersham, with comparison markers for Inner West (A).
Train
2021 count
277
% of total
5.8%
Change from 2016
-28.7pp
277
5.8%
-28.7pp
Bus
2021 count
93
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-5.0pp
93
2.0%
-5.0pp
Tram
2021 count
4
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
4
0.1%
-0.3pp
Ferry
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
10
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
10
0.2%
-0.2pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
894
% of total
18.8%
Change from 2016
-13.6pp
894
18.8%
-13.6pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
71
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
71
1.5%
-0.7pp
Truck
2021 count
13
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
13
0.3%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
24
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
24
0.5%
-0.5pp
Bicycle
2021 count
62
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-2.2pp
62
1.3%
-2.2pp
Walked only
2021 count
144
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
144
3.0%
-1.9pp
Other
2021 count
37
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
37
0.8%
0.0pp
Worked at home
2021 count
2,597
% of total
54.5%
Change from 2016
+50.7pp
2,597
54.5%
+50.7pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
520
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
520
10.9%
+3.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
17
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
17
0.4%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-1,328
-28.7pp
Bus
-232
-5.0pp
Tram
-15
-0.3pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
-7
-0.2pp
Car - as driver
-614
-13.6pp
Car - as passenger
-29
-0.7pp
Truck
-3
0.0pp
Motorbike
-24
-0.5pp
Bicycle
-103
-2.2pp
Walked only
-85
-1.9pp
Other
+2
0.0pp
Worked at home
+2,420
+50.7pp
Did not go to work
+151
+3.0pp
Not stated
-19
-0.4pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Petersham. 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 | 277 | 5.8% | 4.9% | 1,605 | 34.5% | 24.9% | -1,328 | -28.7pp |
| Bus | 93 | 2.0% | 1.9% | 325 | 7.0% | 10.9% | -232 | -5.0pp |
| Tram | 4 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 19 | 0.4% | 1.4% | -15 | -0.3pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 10 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 17 | 0.4% | 0.4% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| Car - as driver | 894 | 18.8% | 20.6% | 1,508 | 32.4% | 35.4% | -614 | -13.6pp |
| Car - as passenger | 71 | 1.5% | 1.5% | 100 | 2.2% | 2.6% | -29 | -0.7pp |
| Truck | 13 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 16 | 0.3% | 0.3% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 24 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 48 | 1.0% | 1.2% | -24 | -0.5pp |
| Bicycle | 62 | 1.3% | 1.1% | 165 | 3.5% | 2.6% | -103 | -2.2pp |
| Walked only | 144 | 3.0% | 3.4% | 229 | 4.9% | 5.2% | -85 | -1.9pp |
| Other | 37 | 0.8% | 0.7% | 35 | 0.8% | 1.2% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Worked at home | 2,597 | 54.5% | 52.7% | 177 | 3.8% | 4.6% | +2,420 | +50.7pp |
| Did not go to work | 520 | 10.9% | 11.6% | 369 | 7.9% | 7.7% | +151 | +3.0pp |
| Not stated | 17 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 36 | 0.8% | 0.7% | -19 | -0.4pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 4,763 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,649 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +114 | 0.0pp |