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 Newcastle (C), accounting for 50.5% (43,475 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (60.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 17,556 people and 19.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Newcastle (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Newcastle (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Newcastle (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Train
2021 count
301
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
301
0.3%
-0.7pp
Bus
2021 count
1,035
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
1,035
1.2%
-1.5pp
Tram
2021 count
61
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
61
0.1%
+0.1pp
Ferry
2021 count
40
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
40
0.0%
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
119
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
119
0.1%
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
43,475
% of total
50.5%
Change from 2016
-17.1pp
43,475
50.5%
-17.1pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
2,583
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-1.7pp
2,583
3.0%
-1.7pp
Truck
2021 count
348
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
348
0.4%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
422
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
422
0.5%
-0.3pp
Bicycle
2021 count
813
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
813
0.9%
-0.9pp
Walked only
2021 count
2,252
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
2,252
2.6%
-1.3pp
Other
2021 count
808
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
808
0.9%
-0.3pp
Worked at home
2021 count
20,111
% of total
23.4%
Change from 2016
+19.9pp
20,111
23.4%
+19.9pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
13,393
% of total
15.6%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
13,393
15.6%
+4.5pp
Not stated
2021 count
284
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
284
0.3%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-456
-0.7pp
Bus
-937
-1.5pp
Tram
+55
+0.1pp
Ferry
-27
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
+6
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
-5,868
-17.1pp
Car - as passenger
-855
-1.7pp
Truck
-41
-0.1pp
Motorbike
-186
-0.3pp
Bicycle
-537
-0.9pp
Walked only
-606
-1.3pp
Other
-96
-0.3pp
Worked at home
+17,556
+19.9pp
Did not go to work
+5,277
+4.5pp
Not stated
-275
-0.5pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Newcastle (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 301 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 757 | 1.0% | 0.9% | -456 | -0.7pp |
| Bus | 1,035 | 1.2% | 0.6% | 1,972 | 2.7% | 0.9% | -937 | -1.5pp |
| Tram | 61 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 6 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +55 | +0.1pp |
| Ferry | 40 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 67 | 0.1% | 0.0% | -27 | -0.1pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 119 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 113 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +6 | -0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 43,475 | 50.5% | 60.3% | 49,343 | 67.6% | 68.4% | -5,868 | -17.1pp |
| Car - as passenger | 2,583 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 3,438 | 4.7% | 5.0% | -855 | -1.7pp |
| Truck | 348 | 0.4% | 1.0% | 389 | 0.5% | 1.2% | -41 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 422 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 608 | 0.8% | 0.6% | -186 | -0.3pp |
| Bicycle | 813 | 0.9% | 0.4% | 1,350 | 1.8% | 0.6% | -537 | -0.9pp |
| Walked only | 2,252 | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2,858 | 3.9% | 3.5% | -606 | -1.3pp |
| Other | 808 | 0.9% | 1.0% | 904 | 1.2% | 1.3% | -96 | -0.3pp |
| Worked at home | 20,111 | 23.4% | 15.7% | 2,555 | 3.5% | 5.8% | +17,556 | +19.9pp |
| Did not go to work | 13,393 | 15.6% | 12.5% | 8,116 | 11.1% | 10.5% | +5,277 | +4.5pp |
| Not stated | 284 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 559 | 0.8% | 1.2% | -275 | -0.5pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 86,045 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 73,035 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +13,010 | 0.0pp |