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 West Mackay, accounting for 70.3% (2,180 people). This share was lower than Mackay (R) (71.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 328 people and 1.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
West Mackay - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for West 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 West Mackay, with comparison markers for Mackay (R).
Train
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Bus
2021 count
25
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
25
0.8%
-1.0pp
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
22
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
22
0.7%
+0.2pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
2,180
% of total
70.3%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
2,180
70.3%
+1.9pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
167
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
167
5.4%
-0.5pp
Truck
2021 count
20
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
20
0.6%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
17
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
17
0.5%
0.0pp
Bicycle
2021 count
42
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
42
1.4%
-0.9pp
Walked only
2021 count
112
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
112
3.6%
-0.8pp
Other
2021 count
51
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
51
1.6%
0.0pp
Worked at home
2021 count
125
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
125
4.0%
+0.9pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
329
% of total
10.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
329
10.6%
+0.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
9
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
9
0.3%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
0
0.0pp
Bus
-24
-1.0pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+8
+0.2pp
Car - as driver
+328
+1.9pp
Car - as passenger
+6
-0.5pp
Truck
+1
-0.1pp
Motorbike
+3
0.0pp
Bicycle
-20
-0.9pp
Walked only
-8
-0.8pp
Other
+9
0.0pp
Worked at home
+40
+0.9pp
Did not go to work
+60
+0.7pp
Not stated
-12
-0.5pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for West 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% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Bus | 25 | 0.8% | 1.5% | 49 | 1.8% | 2.2% | -24 | -1.0pp |
| 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 | 22 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 14 | 0.5% | 0.2% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Car - as driver | 2,180 | 70.3% | 71.1% | 1,852 | 68.4% | 69.9% | +328 | +1.9pp |
| Car - as passenger | 167 | 5.4% | 5.1% | 161 | 5.9% | 5.5% | +6 | -0.5pp |
| Truck | 20 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 19 | 0.7% | 0.9% | +1 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 17 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 14 | 0.5% | 0.7% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Bicycle | 42 | 1.4% | 0.5% | 62 | 2.3% | 0.8% | -20 | -0.9pp |
| Walked only | 112 | 3.6% | 2.0% | 120 | 4.4% | 2.5% | -8 | -0.8pp |
| Other | 51 | 1.6% | 1.0% | 42 | 1.6% | 1.2% | +9 | 0.0pp |
| Worked at home | 125 | 4.0% | 5.2% | 85 | 3.1% | 4.2% | +40 | +0.9pp |
| Did not go to work | 329 | 10.6% | 11.4% | 269 | 9.9% | 10.7% | +60 | +0.7pp |
| Not stated | 9 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 21 | 0.8% | 1.1% | -12 | -0.5pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 3,099 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,708 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +391 | 0.0pp |