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, working from home was the most common travel method among employed residents in Port Phillip (C), accounting for 43.9% (26,782 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (28.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 23,551 people and 38.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Port Phillip (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Port Phillip (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Phillip (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
Train
2021 count
1,655
% of total
2.7%
Change from 2016
-6.4pp
1,655
2.7%
-6.4pp
Bus
2021 count
458
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-1.2pp
458
0.8%
-1.2pp
Tram
2021 count
2,632
% of total
4.3%
Change from 2016
-11.3pp
2,632
4.3%
-11.3pp
Ferry
2021 count
15
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
15
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
201
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
201
0.3%
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
16,406
% of total
26.9%
Change from 2016
-14.8pp
16,406
26.9%
-14.8pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
1,031
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,031
1.7%
-0.8pp
Truck
2021 count
65
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
65
0.1%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
309
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
309
0.5%
-0.3pp
Bicycle
2021 count
1,356
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
1,356
2.2%
-2.3pp
Walked only
2021 count
2,867
% of total
4.7%
Change from 2016
-3.0pp
2,867
4.7%
-3.0pp
Other
2021 count
758
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
758
1.2%
-1.0pp
Worked at home
2021 count
26,782
% of total
43.9%
Change from 2016
+38.3pp
26,782
43.9%
+38.3pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
6,268
% of total
10.3%
Change from 2016
+3.2pp
6,268
10.3%
+3.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
209
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
209
0.3%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-3,620
-6.4pp
Bus
-721
-1.2pp
Tram
-6,354
-11.3pp
Ferry
-6
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
-17
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
-7,646
-14.8pp
Car - as passenger
-420
-0.8pp
Truck
-10
0.0pp
Motorbike
-173
-0.3pp
Bicycle
-1,247
-2.3pp
Walked only
-1,569
-3.0pp
Other
-484
-1.0pp
Worked at home
+23,551
+38.3pp
Did not go to work
+2,164
+3.2pp
Not stated
-156
-0.3pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Port Phillip (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 1,655 | 2.7% | 3.6% | 5,275 | 9.1% | 11.5% | -3,620 | -6.4pp |
| Bus | 458 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 1,179 | 2.0% | 1.5% | -721 | -1.2pp |
| Tram | 2,632 | 4.3% | 0.8% | 8,986 | 15.6% | 2.4% | -6,354 | -11.3pp |
| Ferry | 15 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 21 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -6 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 201 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 218 | 0.4% | 0.2% | -17 | -0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 16,406 | 26.9% | 46.5% | 24,052 | 41.7% | 60.2% | -7,646 | -14.8pp |
| Car - as passenger | 1,031 | 1.7% | 3.2% | 1,451 | 2.5% | 3.9% | -420 | -0.8pp |
| Truck | 65 | 0.1% | 0.5% | 75 | 0.1% | 0.6% | -10 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 309 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 482 | 0.8% | 0.4% | -173 | -0.3pp |
| Bicycle | 1,356 | 2.2% | 0.7% | 2,603 | 4.5% | 1.4% | -1,247 | -2.3pp |
| Walked only | 2,867 | 4.7% | 2.0% | 4,436 | 7.7% | 3.0% | -1,569 | -3.0pp |
| Other | 758 | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1,242 | 2.2% | 1.2% | -484 | -1.0pp |
| Worked at home | 26,782 | 43.9% | 28.8% | 3,231 | 5.6% | 4.2% | +23,551 | +38.3pp |
| Did not go to work | 6,268 | 10.3% | 11.2% | 4,104 | 7.1% | 8.7% | +2,164 | +3.2pp |
| Not stated | 209 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 365 | 0.6% | 0.9% | -156 | -0.3pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 61,012 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 57,720 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,292 | 0.0pp |