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 Merredin (S), accounting for 66.5% (933 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (62.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in did not go to work, which decreased by 28 people and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Merredin (S) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Merredin (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Merredin (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Train
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
0
0.0%
-0.2pp
Bus
2021 count
14
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
14
1.0%
-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
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
933
% of total
66.5%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
933
66.5%
+3.2pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
52
% of total
3.7%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
52
3.7%
-0.9pp
Truck
2021 count
22
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
22
1.6%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
9
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
9
0.6%
+0.1pp
Bicycle
2021 count
9
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
9
0.6%
-0.3pp
Walked only
2021 count
93
% of total
6.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
93
6.6%
-0.6pp
Other
2021 count
17
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
17
1.2%
-0.1pp
Worked at home
2021 count
103
% of total
7.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
103
7.3%
+1.3pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
144
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
144
10.3%
-1.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
8
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
8
0.6%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-3
-0.2pp
Bus
-12
-0.7pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
0
0.0pp
Car - as driver
-13
+3.2pp
Car - as passenger
-17
-0.9pp
Truck
-4
-0.1pp
Motorbike
+2
+0.1pp
Bicycle
-4
-0.3pp
Walked only
-14
-0.6pp
Other
-2
-0.1pp
Worked at home
+13
+1.3pp
Did not go to work
-28
-1.2pp
Not stated
-9
-0.5pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Merredin (S). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 3 | 0.2% | 0.1% | -3 | -0.2pp |
| Bus | 14 | 1.0% | 2.7% | 26 | 1.7% | 4.7% | -12 | -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 | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 933 | 66.5% | 62.6% | 946 | 63.3% | 60.4% | -13 | +3.2pp |
| Car - as passenger | 52 | 3.7% | 5.5% | 69 | 4.6% | 5.9% | -17 | -0.9pp |
| Truck | 22 | 1.6% | 0.8% | 26 | 1.7% | 1.0% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 9 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 7 | 0.5% | 0.6% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Bicycle | 9 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 13 | 0.9% | 1.0% | -4 | -0.3pp |
| Walked only | 93 | 6.6% | 4.5% | 107 | 7.2% | 5.4% | -14 | -0.6pp |
| Other | 17 | 1.2% | 2.6% | 19 | 1.3% | 2.4% | -2 | -0.1pp |
| Worked at home | 103 | 7.3% | 7.1% | 90 | 6.0% | 5.8% | +13 | +1.3pp |
| Did not go to work | 144 | 10.3% | 11.8% | 172 | 11.5% | 10.7% | -28 | -1.2pp |
| Not stated | 8 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 17 | 1.1% | 1.7% | -9 | -0.5pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 1,404 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1,495 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -91 | 0.0pp |