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 South Penrith, accounting for 49.1% (2,740 people). This share was higher than Penrith (C) (47.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 1,230 people and 22 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
South Penrith - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for South 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 South Penrith, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Train
2021 count
118
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
-6.6pp
118
2.1%
-6.6pp
Bus
2021 count
28
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
28
0.5%
-0.7pp
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
-0.1pp
0
0.0%
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
9
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
9
0.2%
+0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
2,740
% of total
49.1%
Change from 2016
-18.7pp
2,740
49.1%
-18.7pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
217
% of total
3.9%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
217
3.9%
-1.5pp
Truck
2021 count
63
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
63
1.1%
-0.5pp
Motorbike
2021 count
20
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
20
0.4%
-0.1pp
Bicycle
2021 count
6
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
6
0.1%
-0.2pp
Walked only
2021 count
46
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
46
0.8%
-0.3pp
Other
2021 count
41
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
41
0.7%
-0.5pp
Worked at home
2021 count
1,377
% of total
24.7%
Change from 2016
+22.0pp
1,377
24.7%
+22.0pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
894
% of total
16.0%
Change from 2016
+7.3pp
894
16.0%
+7.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
20
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
20
0.4%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-365
-6.6pp
Bus
-38
-0.7pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
-3
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
+2
+0.1pp
Car - as driver
-1,008
-18.7pp
Car - as passenger
-81
-1.5pp
Truck
-24
-0.5pp
Motorbike
-8
-0.1pp
Bicycle
-10
-0.2pp
Walked only
-14
-0.3pp
Other
-27
-0.5pp
Worked at home
+1,230
+22.0pp
Did not go to work
+413
+7.3pp
Not stated
-16
-0.3pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for South 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 | 118 | 2.1% | 2.6% | 483 | 8.7% | 10.3% | -365 | -6.6pp |
| Bus | 28 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 66 | 1.2% | 1.0% | -38 | -0.7pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 | 0.1% | 0.0% | -3 | -0.1pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 9 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 7 | 0.1% | 0.1% | +2 | +0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 2,740 | 49.1% | 47.9% | 3,748 | 67.8% | 66.5% | -1,008 | -18.7pp |
| Car - as passenger | 217 | 3.9% | 3.5% | 298 | 5.4% | 4.9% | -81 | -1.5pp |
| Truck | 63 | 1.1% | 1.4% | 87 | 1.6% | 1.8% | -24 | -0.5pp |
| Motorbike | 20 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 28 | 0.5% | 0.5% | -8 | -0.1pp |
| Bicycle | 6 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 16 | 0.3% | 0.2% | -10 | -0.2pp |
| Walked only | 46 | 0.8% | 1.1% | 60 | 1.1% | 1.4% | -14 | -0.3pp |
| Other | 41 | 0.7% | 0.9% | 68 | 1.2% | 1.0% | -27 | -0.5pp |
| Worked at home | 1,377 | 24.7% | 26.3% | 147 | 2.7% | 3.0% | +1,230 | +22.0pp |
| Did not go to work | 894 | 16.0% | 15.0% | 481 | 8.7% | 8.5% | +413 | +7.3pp |
| Not stated | 20 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 36 | 0.7% | 0.8% | -16 | -0.3pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 5,579 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,528 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +51 | 0.0pp |