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 South Mackay, accounting for 71.8% (2,393 people). This share was higher than Mackay (R) (71.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 277 people and 2.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
South Mackay - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for South 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 South Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Train
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
0
0.0%
-0.1pp
Bus
2021 count
47
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
47
1.4%
-0.7pp
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
27
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
27
0.8%
+0.3pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
2,393
% of total
71.8%
Change from 2016
+2.8pp
2,393
71.8%
+2.8pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
205
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
205
6.1%
-0.6pp
Truck
2021 count
25
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
25
0.7%
-0.2pp
Motorbike
2021 count
16
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
16
0.5%
-0.3pp
Bicycle
2021 count
46
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
46
1.4%
-0.7pp
Walked only
2021 count
67
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
67
2.0%
-1.1pp
Other
2021 count
46
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
46
1.4%
-0.1pp
Worked at home
2021 count
113
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
113
3.4%
+1.2pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
331
% of total
9.9%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
331
9.9%
+0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
19
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
19
0.6%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-4
-0.1pp
Bus
-18
-0.7pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+11
+0.3pp
Car - as driver
+277
+2.8pp
Car - as passenger
-1
-0.6pp
Truck
-3
-0.2pp
Motorbike
-9
-0.3pp
Bicycle
-19
-0.7pp
Walked only
-28
-1.1pp
Other
+1
-0.1pp
Worked at home
+46
+1.2pp
Did not go to work
+34
+0.2pp
Not stated
-19
-0.6pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for South 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 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Bus | 47 | 1.4% | 1.5% | 65 | 2.1% | 2.2% | -18 | -0.7pp |
| 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 | 27 | 0.8% | 0.2% | 16 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +11 | +0.3pp |
| Car - as driver | 2,393 | 71.8% | 71.1% | 2,116 | 69.0% | 69.9% | +277 | +2.8pp |
| Car - as passenger | 205 | 6.1% | 5.1% | 206 | 6.7% | 5.5% | -1 | -0.6pp |
| Truck | 25 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 28 | 0.9% | 0.9% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Motorbike | 16 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 25 | 0.8% | 0.7% | -9 | -0.3pp |
| Bicycle | 46 | 1.4% | 0.5% | 65 | 2.1% | 0.8% | -19 | -0.7pp |
| Walked only | 67 | 2.0% | 2.0% | 95 | 3.1% | 2.5% | -28 | -1.1pp |
| Other | 46 | 1.4% | 1.0% | 45 | 1.5% | 1.2% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Worked at home | 113 | 3.4% | 5.2% | 67 | 2.2% | 4.2% | +46 | +1.2pp |
| Did not go to work | 331 | 9.9% | 11.4% | 297 | 9.7% | 10.7% | +34 | +0.2pp |
| Not stated | 19 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 38 | 1.2% | 1.1% | -19 | -0.6pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 3,335 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 3,067 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +268 | 0.0pp |