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 Playford (C), accounting for 71.1% (28,171 people). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (63.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 4,791 people, while its share fell by 0.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Playford (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Train

-1,134

-3.5pp

Bus

+544

+1.1pp

Tram

-2

0.0pp

Ferry

+7

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

+52

+0.1pp

Car - as driver

+4,791

-0.5pp

Car - as passenger

+461

+0.3pp

Truck

-7

-0.2pp

Motorbike

+32

0.0pp

Bicycle

-3

-0.1pp

Walked only

-30

-0.3pp

Other

+83

0.0pp

Worked at home

+1,368

+3.0pp

Did not go to work

+868

+0.4pp

Not stated

-79

-0.4pp

Data table

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

Method of travel to work for Playford (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Method of travel to work for Playford (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
Train1030.3%1.3%1,2373.8%2.3%-1,134-3.5pp
Bus1,1793.0%4.5%6351.9%5.7%+544+1.1pp
Tram30.0%0.3%50.0%0.5%-20.0pp
Ferry130.0%0.0%60.0%0.0%+70.0pp
Taxi/ride-share820.2%0.3%300.1%0.2%+52+0.1pp
Car - as driver28,17171.1%63.3%23,38071.6%66.0%+4,791-0.5pp
Car - as passenger2,0685.2%4.2%1,6074.9%4.5%+461+0.3pp
Truck2550.6%0.4%2620.8%0.5%-7-0.2pp
Motorbike1620.4%0.4%1300.4%0.5%+320.0pp
Bicycle820.2%1.0%850.3%1.1%-3-0.1pp
Walked only3961.0%1.9%4261.3%2.2%-30-0.3pp
Other4831.2%1.3%4001.2%1.4%+830.0pp
Worked at home2,1505.4%9.8%7822.4%3.6%+1,368+3.0pp
Did not go to work4,19310.6%10.8%3,32510.2%10.5%+868+0.4pp
Not stated2650.7%0.4%3441.1%0.8%-79-0.4pp
Total employed persons aged 15+39,605100.0%100.0%32,654100.0%100.0%+6,9510.0pp