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 Mackay, accounting for 63.8% (1,176 people). This share was lower than Mackay (R) (71.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 262 people and 3 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Mackay - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Mackay in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Mackay (R) and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Train
2021 count
4
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
4
0.2%
0.0pp
Bus
2021 count
29
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
29
1.6%
-1.3pp
Tram
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
12
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
12
0.7%
+0.4pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
1,176
% of total
63.8%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
1,176
63.8%
+3.0pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
158
% of total
8.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
158
8.6%
+0.2pp
Truck
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
0
0.0%
-0.7pp
Motorbike
2021 count
8
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
8
0.4%
-0.7pp
Bicycle
2021 count
45
% of total
2.4%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
45
2.4%
+0.1pp
Walked only
2021 count
150
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
150
8.1%
-1.6pp
Other
2021 count
38
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
38
2.1%
-0.1pp
Worked at home
2021 count
55
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
55
3.0%
-0.1pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
163
% of total
8.8%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
163
8.8%
+1.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
6
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6
0.3%
-0.2pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+1
0.0pp
Bus
-14
-1.3pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+7
+0.4pp
Car - as driver
+262
+3.0pp
Car - as passenger
+31
+0.2pp
Truck
-10
-0.7pp
Motorbike
-9
-0.7pp
Bicycle
+10
+0.1pp
Walked only
+4
-1.6pp
Other
+5
-0.1pp
Worked at home
+8
-0.1pp
Did not go to work
+48
+1.1pp
Not stated
-2
-0.2pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Mackay. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Mackay (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | % | Mackay (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 4 | 0.2% | 0.0% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Bus | 29 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 43 | 2.9% | 2.2% | -14 | -1.3pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 12 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 5 | 0.3% | 0.2% | +7 | +0.4pp |
| Car - as driver | 1,176 | 63.8% | 71.1% | 914 | 60.8% | 69.9% | +262 | +3.0pp |
| Car - as passenger | 158 | 8.6% | 5.1% | 127 | 8.4% | 5.5% | +31 | +0.2pp |
| Truck | 0 | 0.0% | 0.7% | 10 | 0.7% | 0.9% | -10 | -0.7pp |
| Motorbike | 8 | 0.4% | 0.5% | 17 | 1.1% | 0.7% | -9 | -0.7pp |
| Bicycle | 45 | 2.4% | 0.5% | 35 | 2.3% | 0.8% | +10 | +0.1pp |
| Walked only | 150 | 8.1% | 2.0% | 146 | 9.7% | 2.5% | +4 | -1.6pp |
| Other | 38 | 2.1% | 1.0% | 33 | 2.2% | 1.2% | +5 | -0.1pp |
| Worked at home | 55 | 3.0% | 5.2% | 47 | 3.1% | 4.2% | +8 | -0.1pp |
| Did not go to work | 163 | 8.8% | 11.4% | 115 | 7.7% | 10.7% | +48 | +1.1pp |
| Not stated | 6 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 8 | 0.5% | 1.1% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 1,844 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,503 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +341 | 0.0pp |