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 (part), accounting for 34.2% (11,244 people). This share was lower than Melbourne (C) (38.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 10,451 people and 30.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Melbourne (part) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Melbourne (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Melbourne (C) and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Melbourne (part), with comparison markers for Melbourne (C).
Train
2021 count
3,132
% of total
9.5%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
3,132
9.5%
-1.3pp
Bus
2021 count
449
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
449
1.4%
-0.2pp
Tram
2021 count
3,826
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
-13.0pp
3,826
11.6%
-13.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
5
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
5
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
115
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
115
0.3%
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
3,401
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
-3.7pp
3,401
10.3%
-3.7pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
348
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
348
1.1%
-0.2pp
Truck
2021 count
10
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10
0.0%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
243
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
243
0.7%
+0.3pp
Bicycle
2021 count
522
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
522
1.6%
-0.1pp
Walked only
2021 count
4,740
% of total
14.4%
Change from 2016
-16.1pp
4,740
14.4%
-16.1pp
Other
2021 count
516
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
516
1.6%
0.0pp
Worked at home
2021 count
11,244
% of total
34.2%
Change from 2016
+30.5pp
11,244
34.2%
+30.5pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
4,194
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
4,194
12.8%
+4.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
149
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
149
0.5%
-0.4pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+816
-1.3pp
Bus
+100
-0.2pp
Tram
-1,443
-13.0pp
Ferry
+2
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+30
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
+397
-3.7pp
Car - as passenger
+65
-0.2pp
Truck
+7
0.0pp
Motorbike
+167
+0.3pp
Bicycle
+148
-0.1pp
Walked only
-1,798
-16.1pp
Other
+170
0.0pp
Worked at home
+10,451
+30.5pp
Did not go to work
+2,410
+4.5pp
Not stated
-42
-0.4pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Melbourne (part). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Melbourne (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | % | Melbourne (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 3,132 | 9.5% | 7.0% | 2,316 | 10.8% | 11.5% | +816 | -1.3pp |
| Bus | 449 | 1.4% | 1.1% | 349 | 1.6% | 1.7% | +100 | -0.2pp |
| Tram | 3,826 | 11.6% | 8.5% | 5,269 | 24.6% | 18.0% | -1,443 | -13.0pp |
| Ferry | 5 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 115 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 85 | 0.4% | 0.4% | +30 | -0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 3,401 | 10.3% | 14.5% | 3,004 | 14.0% | 20.7% | +397 | -3.7pp |
| Car - as passenger | 348 | 1.1% | 1.2% | 283 | 1.3% | 1.8% | +65 | -0.2pp |
| Truck | 10 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +7 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 243 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 76 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +167 | +0.3pp |
| Bicycle | 522 | 1.6% | 2.2% | 374 | 1.7% | 3.9% | +148 | -0.1pp |
| Walked only | 4,740 | 14.4% | 12.1% | 6,538 | 30.5% | 26.2% | -1,798 | -16.1pp |
| Other | 516 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 346 | 1.6% | 1.7% | +170 | 0.0pp |
| Worked at home | 11,244 | 34.2% | 38.6% | 793 | 3.7% | 4.1% | +10,451 | +30.5pp |
| Did not go to work | 4,194 | 12.8% | 11.9% | 1,784 | 8.3% | 8.7% | +2,410 | +4.5pp |
| Not stated | 149 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 191 | 0.9% | 0.8% | -42 | -0.4pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 32,894 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 21,414 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +11,480 | 0.0pp |