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 Perth (C), accounting for 32.1% (5,359 people). This share was lower than Greater Perth (62%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 1,657 people, while its share fell by 0.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Perth (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Perth (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Perth (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
Train
2021 count
811
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
811
4.9%
-1.2pp
Bus
2021 count
3,044
% of total
18.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
3,044
18.2%
-1.4pp
Tram
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
10
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
10
0.1%
+0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
153
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
153
0.9%
+0.5pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
5,359
% of total
32.1%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
5,359
32.1%
-0.1pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
637
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
637
3.8%
+0.4pp
Truck
2021 count
22
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
22
0.1%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
83
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
83
0.5%
+0.1pp
Bicycle
2021 count
241
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
241
1.4%
-0.1pp
Walked only
2021 count
2,743
% of total
16.4%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
2,743
16.4%
-4.3pp
Other
2021 count
439
% of total
2.6%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
439
2.6%
+0.7pp
Worked at home
2021 count
1,349
% of total
8.1%
Change from 2016
+4.5pp
1,349
8.1%
+4.5pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
1,742
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,742
10.4%
+1.4pp
Not stated
2021 count
83
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
83
0.5%
-0.7pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+114
-1.2pp
Bus
+789
-1.4pp
Tram
-3
0.0pp
Ferry
+5
+0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
+112
+0.5pp
Car - as driver
+1,657
-0.1pp
Car - as passenger
+251
+0.4pp
Truck
+10
0.0pp
Motorbike
+35
+0.1pp
Bicycle
+66
-0.1pp
Walked only
+367
-4.3pp
Other
+226
+0.7pp
Worked at home
+939
+4.5pp
Did not go to work
+708
+1.4pp
Not stated
-51
-0.7pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Perth (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 811 | 4.9% | 4.9% | 697 | 6.1% | 6.1% | +114 | -1.2pp |
| Bus | 3,044 | 18.2% | 3.5% | 2,255 | 19.6% | 4.1% | +789 | -1.4pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -3 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 10 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 5 | 0.0% | 0.0% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 153 | 0.9% | 0.4% | 41 | 0.4% | 0.2% | +112 | +0.5pp |
| Car - as driver | 5,359 | 32.1% | 62.0% | 3,702 | 32.2% | 64.1% | +1,657 | -0.1pp |
| Car - as passenger | 637 | 3.8% | 4.4% | 386 | 3.4% | 4.6% | +251 | +0.4pp |
| Truck | 22 | 0.1% | 0.5% | 12 | 0.1% | 0.7% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 83 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 48 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +35 | +0.1pp |
| Bicycle | 241 | 1.4% | 0.6% | 175 | 1.5% | 1.0% | +66 | -0.1pp |
| Walked only | 2,743 | 16.4% | 1.6% | 2,376 | 20.7% | 2.1% | +367 | -4.3pp |
| Other | 439 | 2.6% | 2.1% | 213 | 1.9% | 1.9% | +226 | +0.7pp |
| Worked at home | 1,349 | 8.1% | 7.6% | 410 | 3.6% | 3.9% | +939 | +4.5pp |
| Did not go to work | 1,742 | 10.4% | 11.7% | 1,034 | 9.0% | 9.9% | +708 | +1.4pp |
| Not stated | 83 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 134 | 1.2% | 1.0% | -51 | -0.7pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 16,716 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 11,491 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +5,225 | 0.0pp |