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 Penrith (C), accounting for 47.9% (48,887 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (34.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 23,928 people and 23.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Penrith (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Penrith (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 Penrith (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Penrith (C)
Greater Sydney

Train

2021 count

2,620

% of total

2.6%

Change from 2016

-7.7pp

Bus

2021 count

502

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Tram

2021 count

3

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

10

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

139

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

48,887

% of total

47.9%

Change from 2016

-18.6pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

3,523

% of total

3.5%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Truck

2021 count

1,417

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Motorbike

2021 count

326

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Bicycle

2021 count

133

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

1,145

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Other

2021 count

870

% of total

0.9%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Worked at home

2021 count

26,816

% of total

26.3%

Change from 2016

+23.3pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

15,285

% of total

15.0%

Change from 2016

+6.5pp

Not stated

2021 count

415

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Data table

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

Method of travel to work for Penrith (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Method of travel to work for Penrith (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
Train2,6202.6%4.1%9,79410.3%16.2%-7,174-7.7pp
Bus5020.5%1.4%9341.0%6.1%-432-0.5pp
Tram30.0%0.1%120.0%0.1%-90.0pp
Ferry100.0%0.0%120.0%0.3%-20.0pp
Taxi/ride-share1390.1%0.1%960.1%0.2%+430.0pp
Car - as driver48,88747.9%34.2%63,08666.5%52.7%-14,199-18.6pp
Car - as passenger3,5233.5%2.6%4,6664.9%3.9%-1,143-1.4pp
Truck1,4171.4%0.6%1,7211.8%0.9%-304-0.4pp
Motorbike3260.3%0.4%4340.5%0.7%-108-0.2pp
Bicycle1330.1%0.4%1850.2%0.7%-52-0.1pp
Walked only1,1451.1%2.3%1,3071.4%4.0%-162-0.3pp
Other8700.9%0.8%9121.0%1.1%-42-0.1pp
Worked at home26,81626.3%38.9%2,8883.0%4.4%+23,928+23.3pp
Did not go to work15,28515.0%13.6%8,0288.5%7.8%+7,257+6.5pp
Not stated4150.4%0.4%7870.8%0.9%-372-0.4pp
Total employed persons aged 15+102,091100.0%100.0%94,862100.0%100.0%+7,2290.0pp