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 Northam (S), accounting for 66.1% (3,026 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (62.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 165 people and 0.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Northam (S) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Northam (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 Northam (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
Train
2021 count
26
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
26
0.6%
+0.2pp
Bus
2021 count
49
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
49
1.1%
-0.2pp
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
11
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
11
0.2%
+0.2pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
3,026
% of total
66.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
3,026
66.1%
+0.1pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
277
% of total
6.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
277
6.1%
+0.9pp
Truck
2021 count
48
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
48
1.0%
-0.6pp
Motorbike
2021 count
7
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
7
0.2%
-0.1pp
Bicycle
2021 count
13
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
13
0.3%
-0.1pp
Walked only
2021 count
184
% of total
4.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
184
4.0%
-0.1pp
Other
2021 count
99
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
99
2.2%
+0.3pp
Worked at home
2021 count
305
% of total
6.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
305
6.7%
+1.1pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
504
% of total
11.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
504
11.0%
-1.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
29
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
29
0.6%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+9
+0.2pp
Bus
-9
-0.2pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+11
+0.2pp
Car - as driver
+165
+0.1pp
Car - as passenger
+52
+0.9pp
Truck
-22
-0.6pp
Motorbike
-5
-0.1pp
Bicycle
-5
-0.1pp
Walked only
+8
-0.1pp
Other
+18
+0.3pp
Worked at home
+61
+1.1pp
Did not go to work
-15
-1.0pp
Not stated
-24
-0.6pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Northam (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 | 26 | 0.6% | 0.1% | 17 | 0.4% | 0.1% | +9 | +0.2pp |
| Bus | 49 | 1.1% | 2.7% | 58 | 1.3% | 4.7% | -9 | -0.2pp |
| 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 | 11 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +11 | +0.2pp |
| Car - as driver | 3,026 | 66.1% | 62.6% | 2,861 | 66.0% | 60.4% | +165 | +0.1pp |
| Car - as passenger | 277 | 6.1% | 5.5% | 225 | 5.2% | 5.9% | +52 | +0.9pp |
| Truck | 48 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 70 | 1.6% | 1.0% | -22 | -0.6pp |
| Motorbike | 7 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 12 | 0.3% | 0.6% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Bicycle | 13 | 0.3% | 0.8% | 18 | 0.4% | 1.0% | -5 | -0.1pp |
| Walked only | 184 | 4.0% | 4.5% | 176 | 4.1% | 5.4% | +8 | -0.1pp |
| Other | 99 | 2.2% | 2.6% | 81 | 1.9% | 2.4% | +18 | +0.3pp |
| Worked at home | 305 | 6.7% | 7.1% | 244 | 5.6% | 5.8% | +61 | +1.1pp |
| Did not go to work | 504 | 11.0% | 11.8% | 519 | 12.0% | 10.7% | -15 | -1.0pp |
| Not stated | 29 | 0.6% | 0.8% | 53 | 1.2% | 1.7% | -24 | -0.6pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 4,578 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,334 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +244 | 0.0pp |