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 Mitcham (C), accounting for 58.5% (20,023 people). This share was lower than Greater Adelaide (63.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 3,214 people and 8.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Mitcham (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Mitcham (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Mitcham (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.

Mitcham (C)
Greater Adelaide

Train

2021 count

854

% of total

2.5%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Bus

2021 count

1,173

% of total

3.4%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

Tram

2021 count

42

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Ferry

2021 count

5

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

62

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

20,023

% of total

58.5%

Change from 2016

-4.8pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

1,264

% of total

3.7%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Truck

2021 count

96

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Motorbike

2021 count

145

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

558

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Walked only

2021 count

534

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Other

2021 count

361

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Worked at home

2021 count

4,728

% of total

13.8%

Change from 2016

+8.9pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

4,260

% of total

12.5%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

Not stated

2021 count

98

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Mitcham (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.

Method of travel to work for Mitcham (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Method of travel to work for Mitcham (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
Train8542.5%1.3%1,0723.5%2.3%-218-1.0pp
Bus1,1733.4%4.5%1,5835.1%5.7%-410-1.7pp
Tram420.1%0.3%690.2%0.5%-27-0.1pp
Ferry50.0%0.0%70.0%0.0%-20.0pp
Taxi/ride-share620.2%0.3%550.2%0.2%+70.0pp
Car - as driver20,02358.5%63.3%19,58563.3%66.0%+438-4.8pp
Car - as passenger1,2643.7%4.2%1,3414.3%4.5%-77-0.6pp
Truck960.3%0.4%1050.3%0.5%-90.0pp
Motorbike1450.4%0.4%1500.5%0.5%-5-0.1pp
Bicycle5581.6%1.0%5871.9%1.1%-29-0.3pp
Walked only5341.6%1.9%6142.0%2.2%-80-0.4pp
Other3611.1%1.3%4411.4%1.4%-80-0.3pp
Worked at home4,72813.8%9.8%1,5144.9%3.6%+3,214+8.9pp
Did not go to work4,26012.5%10.8%3,59811.6%10.5%+662+0.9pp
Not stated980.3%0.4%1990.6%0.8%-101-0.3pp
Total employed persons aged 15+34,203100.0%100.0%30,920100.0%100.0%+3,2830.0pp