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 Melbourne (C), accounting for 38.6% (34,843 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (28.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 32,192 people and 34.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Melbourne (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Melbourne (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melbourne (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Train
2021 count
6,293
% of total
7.0%
Change from 2016
-4.5pp
6,293
7.0%
-4.5pp
Bus
2021 count
969
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
969
1.1%
-0.6pp
Tram
2021 count
7,637
% of total
8.5%
Change from 2016
-9.5pp
7,637
8.5%
-9.5pp
Ferry
2021 count
11
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
11
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
342
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
342
0.4%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
13,059
% of total
14.5%
Change from 2016
-6.2pp
13,059
14.5%
-6.2pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
1,111
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,111
1.2%
-0.6pp
Truck
2021 count
48
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
48
0.1%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
589
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
589
0.7%
+0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
2,010
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
2,010
2.2%
-1.7pp
Walked only
2021 count
10,935
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
-14.1pp
10,935
12.1%
-14.1pp
Other
2021 count
1,376
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
1,376
1.5%
-0.2pp
Worked at home
2021 count
34,843
% of total
38.6%
Change from 2016
+34.5pp
34,843
38.6%
+34.5pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
10,764
% of total
11.9%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
10,764
11.9%
+3.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
355
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
355
0.4%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-1,199
-4.5pp
Bus
-164
-0.6pp
Tram
-4,063
-9.5pp
Ferry
-5
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+88
0.0pp
Car - as driver
-417
-6.2pp
Car - as passenger
-54
-0.6pp
Truck
+8
0.0pp
Motorbike
+274
+0.2pp
Bicycle
-504
-1.7pp
Walked only
-6,139
-14.1pp
Other
+250
-0.2pp
Worked at home
+32,192
+34.5pp
Did not go to work
+5,108
+3.2pp
Not stated
-181
-0.4pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Melbourne (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 6,293 | 7.0% | 3.6% | 7,492 | 11.5% | 11.5% | -1,199 | -4.5pp |
| Bus | 969 | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1,133 | 1.7% | 1.5% | -164 | -0.6pp |
| Tram | 7,637 | 8.5% | 0.8% | 11,700 | 18.0% | 2.4% | -4,063 | -9.5pp |
| Ferry | 11 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 16 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 342 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 254 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +88 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 13,059 | 14.5% | 46.5% | 13,476 | 20.7% | 60.2% | -417 | -6.2pp |
| Car - as passenger | 1,111 | 1.2% | 3.2% | 1,165 | 1.8% | 3.9% | -54 | -0.6pp |
| Truck | 48 | 0.1% | 0.5% | 40 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +8 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 589 | 0.7% | 0.2% | 315 | 0.5% | 0.4% | +274 | +0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 2,010 | 2.2% | 0.7% | 2,514 | 3.9% | 1.4% | -504 | -1.7pp |
| Walked only | 10,935 | 12.1% | 2.0% | 17,074 | 26.2% | 3.0% | -6,139 | -14.1pp |
| Other | 1,376 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 1,126 | 1.7% | 1.2% | +250 | -0.2pp |
| Worked at home | 34,843 | 38.6% | 28.8% | 2,651 | 4.1% | 4.2% | +32,192 | +34.5pp |
| Did not go to work | 10,764 | 11.9% | 11.2% | 5,656 | 8.7% | 8.7% | +5,108 | +3.2pp |
| Not stated | 355 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 536 | 0.8% | 0.9% | -181 | -0.4pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 90,342 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 65,148 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +25,194 | 0.0pp |