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 Lake Macquarie (C), accounting for 56% (54,550 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (60.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 16,604 people and 16.6 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Lake Macquarie (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Lake Macquarie (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lake Macquarie (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Train
2021 count
286
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
286
0.3%
-0.8pp
Bus
2021 count
564
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
564
0.6%
-0.5pp
Tram
2021 count
5
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
5
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
60
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
60
0.1%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
54,550
% of total
56.0%
Change from 2016
-16.9pp
54,550
56.0%
-16.9pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
3,309
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
3,309
3.4%
-1.0pp
Truck
2021 count
797
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
797
0.8%
-0.3pp
Motorbike
2021 count
392
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
392
0.4%
-0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
229
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
229
0.2%
-0.2pp
Walked only
2021 count
1,059
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,059
1.1%
-0.3pp
Other
2021 count
712
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
712
0.7%
-0.3pp
Worked at home
2021 count
19,933
% of total
20.5%
Change from 2016
+16.6pp
19,933
20.5%
+16.6pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
15,133
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+4.3pp
15,133
15.5%
+4.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
367
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
367
0.4%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-671
-0.8pp
Bus
-401
-0.5pp
Tram
-2
0.0pp
Ferry
+1
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
-2
0.0pp
Car - as driver
-7,579
-16.9pp
Car - as passenger
-449
-1.0pp
Truck
-101
-0.3pp
Motorbike
-127
-0.2pp
Bicycle
-106
-0.2pp
Walked only
-160
-0.3pp
Other
-100
-0.3pp
Worked at home
+16,604
+16.6pp
Did not go to work
+5,556
+4.3pp
Not stated
-319
-0.4pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Lake Macquarie (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 286 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 957 | 1.1% | 0.9% | -671 | -0.8pp |
| Bus | 564 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 965 | 1.1% | 0.9% | -401 | -0.5pp |
| Tram | 5 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 7 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 5 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 60 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 62 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 54,550 | 56.0% | 60.3% | 62,129 | 72.9% | 68.4% | -7,579 | -16.9pp |
| Car - as passenger | 3,309 | 3.4% | 4.2% | 3,758 | 4.4% | 5.0% | -449 | -1.0pp |
| Truck | 797 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 898 | 1.1% | 1.2% | -101 | -0.3pp |
| Motorbike | 392 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 519 | 0.6% | 0.6% | -127 | -0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 229 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 335 | 0.4% | 0.6% | -106 | -0.2pp |
| Walked only | 1,059 | 1.1% | 2.9% | 1,219 | 1.4% | 3.5% | -160 | -0.3pp |
| Other | 712 | 0.7% | 1.0% | 812 | 1.0% | 1.3% | -100 | -0.3pp |
| Worked at home | 19,933 | 20.5% | 15.7% | 3,329 | 3.9% | 5.8% | +16,604 | +16.6pp |
| Did not go to work | 15,133 | 15.5% | 12.5% | 9,577 | 11.2% | 10.5% | +5,556 | +4.3pp |
| Not stated | 367 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 686 | 0.8% | 1.2% | -319 | -0.4pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 97,401 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 85,257 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,144 | 0.0pp |