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 North Sydney (A), accounting for 60.9% (25,071 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 22,671 people and 55 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

North Sydney (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for North Sydney (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

North Sydney (A)
Greater Sydney

Train

2021 count

1,386

% of total

3.4%

Change from 2016

-18.4pp

Bus

2021 count

1,035

% of total

2.5%

Change from 2016

-14.0pp

Tram

2021 count

3

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

83

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

69

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

6,613

% of total

16.1%

Change from 2016

-14.1pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

557

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Truck

2021 count

48

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Motorbike

2021 count

179

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Bicycle

2021 count

196

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

Walked only

2021 count

2,035

% of total

4.9%

Change from 2016

-6.0pp

Other

2021 count

245

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Worked at home

2021 count

25,071

% of total

60.9%

Change from 2016

+55.0pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

3,589

% of total

8.7%

Change from 2016

+2.3pp

Not stated

2021 count

86

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for North Sydney (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Method of travel to work for North Sydney (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Method of travel to work for North Sydney (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Train1,3863.4%4.1%8,80021.8%16.2%-7,414-18.4pp
Bus1,0352.5%1.4%6,66716.5%6.1%-5,632-14.0pp
Tram30.0%0.1%40.0%0.1%-10.0pp
Ferry830.2%0.0%6121.5%0.3%-529-1.3pp
Taxi/ride-share690.2%0.1%2170.5%0.2%-148-0.3pp
Car - as driver6,61316.1%34.2%12,19430.2%52.7%-5,581-14.1pp
Car - as passenger5571.4%2.6%9822.4%3.9%-425-1.0pp
Truck480.1%0.6%350.1%0.9%+130.0pp
Motorbike1790.4%0.4%3820.9%0.7%-203-0.5pp
Bicycle1960.5%0.4%4381.1%0.7%-242-0.6pp
Walked only2,0354.9%2.3%4,42610.9%4.0%-2,391-6.0pp
Other2450.6%0.8%4531.1%1.1%-208-0.5pp
Worked at home25,07160.9%38.9%2,4005.9%4.4%+22,671+55.0pp
Did not go to work3,5898.7%13.6%2,5846.4%7.8%+1,005+2.3pp
Not stated860.2%0.4%2410.6%0.9%-155-0.4pp
Total employed persons aged 15+41,195100.0%100.0%40,435100.0%100.0%+7600.0pp