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 Northern Beaches (A), accounting for 44% (59,959 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 50,704 people and 36.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Northern Beaches (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Northern Beaches (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 Northern Beaches (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Train
2021 count
457
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
457
0.3%
-2.4pp
Bus
2021 count
3,863
% of total
2.8%
Change from 2016
-10.0pp
3,863
2.8%
-10.0pp
Tram
2021 count
9
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
9
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
248
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
248
0.2%
-1.9pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
121
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
121
0.1%
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
44,891
% of total
33.0%
Change from 2016
-21.5pp
44,891
33.0%
-21.5pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
2,969
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
2,969
2.2%
-1.2pp
Truck
2021 count
755
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
755
0.6%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
936
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
936
0.7%
-0.5pp
Bicycle
2021 count
749
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
749
0.5%
-0.5pp
Walked only
2021 count
3,197
% of total
2.3%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
3,197
2.3%
-1.1pp
Other
2021 count
1,112
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,112
0.8%
-0.8pp
Worked at home
2021 count
59,959
% of total
44.0%
Change from 2016
+36.9pp
59,959
44.0%
+36.9pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
16,500
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
+3.8pp
16,500
12.1%
+3.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
451
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
451
0.3%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-3,105
-2.4pp
Bus
-12,789
-10.0pp
Tram
-11
0.0pp
Ferry
-2,471
-1.9pp
Taxi/ride-share
-127
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
-25,812
-21.5pp
Car - as passenger
-1,494
-1.2pp
Truck
-211
-0.1pp
Motorbike
-674
-0.5pp
Bicycle
-562
-0.5pp
Walked only
-1,181
-1.1pp
Other
-911
-0.8pp
Worked at home
+50,704
+36.9pp
Did not go to work
+5,796
+3.8pp
Not stated
-617
-0.5pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Northern Beaches (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 457 | 0.3% | 4.1% | 3,562 | 2.7% | 16.2% | -3,105 | -2.4pp |
| Bus | 3,863 | 2.8% | 1.4% | 16,652 | 12.8% | 6.1% | -12,789 | -10.0pp |
| Tram | 9 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 20 | 0.0% | 0.1% | -11 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 248 | 0.2% | 0.0% | 2,719 | 2.1% | 0.3% | -2,471 | -1.9pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 121 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 248 | 0.2% | 0.2% | -127 | -0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 44,891 | 33.0% | 34.2% | 70,703 | 54.5% | 52.7% | -25,812 | -21.5pp |
| Car - as passenger | 2,969 | 2.2% | 2.6% | 4,463 | 3.4% | 3.9% | -1,494 | -1.2pp |
| Truck | 755 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 966 | 0.7% | 0.9% | -211 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 936 | 0.7% | 0.4% | 1,610 | 1.2% | 0.7% | -674 | -0.5pp |
| Bicycle | 749 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 1,311 | 1.0% | 0.7% | -562 | -0.5pp |
| Walked only | 3,197 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 4,378 | 3.4% | 4.0% | -1,181 | -1.1pp |
| Other | 1,112 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 2,023 | 1.6% | 1.1% | -911 | -0.8pp |
| Worked at home | 59,959 | 44.0% | 38.9% | 9,255 | 7.1% | 4.4% | +50,704 | +36.9pp |
| Did not go to work | 16,500 | 12.1% | 13.6% | 10,704 | 8.3% | 7.8% | +5,796 | +3.8pp |
| Not stated | 451 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 1,068 | 0.8% | 0.9% | -617 | -0.5pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 136,217 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 129,682 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +6,535 | 0.0pp |