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, accounting for 42.3% (3,469 people). This share was lower than Penrith (C) (47.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 3,372 people, while its share fell by 31.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Penrith - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Penrith in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Penrith, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Train
2021 count
393
% of total
4.8%
Change from 2016
+4.8pp
393
4.8%
+4.8pp
Bus
2021 count
65
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
65
0.8%
+0.8pp
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
25
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.3pp
25
0.3%
+0.3pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
3,469
% of total
42.3%
Change from 2016
-31.2pp
3,469
42.3%
-31.2pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
255
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
255
3.1%
+0.1pp
Truck
2021 count
50
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
50
0.6%
+0.6pp
Motorbike
2021 count
41
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
41
0.5%
+0.5pp
Bicycle
2021 count
17
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
17
0.2%
+0.2pp
Walked only
2021 count
298
% of total
3.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
298
3.6%
-0.9pp
Other
2021 count
78
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-1.3pp
78
1.0%
-1.3pp
Worked at home
2021 count
2,332
% of total
28.4%
Change from 2016
+20.1pp
2,332
28.4%
+20.1pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
1,141
% of total
13.9%
Change from 2016
+8.6pp
1,141
13.9%
+8.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
46
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
46
0.6%
-2.4pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+393
+4.8pp
Bus
+65
+0.8pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+25
+0.3pp
Car - as driver
+3,372
-31.2pp
Car - as passenger
+251
+0.1pp
Truck
+50
+0.6pp
Motorbike
+41
+0.5pp
Bicycle
+17
+0.2pp
Walked only
+292
-0.9pp
Other
+75
-1.3pp
Worked at home
+2,321
+20.1pp
Did not go to work
+1,134
+8.6pp
Not stated
+42
-2.4pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Penrith. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 393 | 4.8% | 2.6% | 0 | 0.0% | 10.3% | +393 | +4.8pp |
| Bus | 65 | 0.8% | 0.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% | +65 | +0.8pp |
| 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 | 25 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +25 | +0.3pp |
| Car - as driver | 3,469 | 42.3% | 47.9% | 97 | 73.5% | 66.5% | +3,372 | -31.2pp |
| Car - as passenger | 255 | 3.1% | 3.5% | 4 | 3.0% | 4.9% | +251 | +0.1pp |
| Truck | 50 | 0.6% | 1.4% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.8% | +50 | +0.6pp |
| Motorbike | 41 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.5% | +41 | +0.5pp |
| Bicycle | 17 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| Walked only | 298 | 3.6% | 1.1% | 6 | 4.5% | 1.4% | +292 | -0.9pp |
| Other | 78 | 1.0% | 0.9% | 3 | 2.3% | 1.0% | +75 | -1.3pp |
| Worked at home | 2,332 | 28.4% | 26.3% | 11 | 8.3% | 3.0% | +2,321 | +20.1pp |
| Did not go to work | 1,141 | 13.9% | 15.0% | 7 | 5.3% | 8.5% | +1,134 | +8.6pp |
| Not stated | 46 | 0.6% | 0.4% | 4 | 3.0% | 0.8% | +42 | -2.4pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 8,210 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 132 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +8,078 | 0.0pp |