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 Parramatta (C), accounting for 43.9% (54,036 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 50,385 people and 40.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Parramatta (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Parramatta (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Parramatta (C)
Greater Sydney

Train

2021 count

6,824

% of total

5.5%

Change from 2016

-16.0pp

Bus

2021 count

1,940

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

-4.3pp

Tram

2021 count

9

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

33

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

163

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

35,882

% of total

29.2%

Change from 2016

-22.2pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

2,938

% of total

2.4%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Truck

2021 count

373

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Motorbike

2021 count

401

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Bicycle

2021 count

299

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Walked only

2021 count

2,413

% of total

2.0%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Other

2021 count

949

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Worked at home

2021 count

54,036

% of total

43.9%

Change from 2016

+40.5pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

16,250

% of total

13.2%

Change from 2016

+6.1pp

Not stated

2021 count

524

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Data table

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

Method of travel to work for Parramatta (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Method of travel to work for Parramatta (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Train6,8245.5%4.1%22,94321.5%16.2%-16,119-16.0pp
Bus1,9401.6%1.4%6,2415.9%6.1%-4,301-4.3pp
Tram90.0%0.1%300.0%0.1%-210.0pp
Ferry330.0%0.0%1360.1%0.3%-103-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share1630.1%0.1%1660.2%0.2%-3-0.1pp
Car - as driver35,88229.2%34.2%54,77151.4%52.7%-18,889-22.2pp
Car - as passenger2,9382.4%2.6%3,9003.7%3.9%-962-1.3pp
Truck3730.3%0.6%6060.6%0.9%-233-0.3pp
Motorbike4010.3%0.4%5490.5%0.7%-148-0.2pp
Bicycle2990.2%0.4%4520.4%0.7%-153-0.2pp
Walked only2,4132.0%2.3%3,7613.5%4.0%-1,348-1.5pp
Other9490.8%0.8%9930.9%1.1%-44-0.1pp
Worked at home54,03643.9%38.9%3,6513.4%4.4%+50,385+40.5pp
Did not go to work16,25013.2%13.6%7,5677.1%7.8%+8,683+6.1pp
Not stated5240.4%0.4%8200.8%0.9%-296-0.4pp
Total employed persons aged 15+123,034100.0%100.0%106,586100.0%100.0%+16,4480.0pp