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 Port Stephens (A), accounting for 56% (17,361 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (60.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 4,294 people and 13.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Port Stephens (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Port Stephens (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Port Stephens (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Train
2021 count
14
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
14
0.0%
-0.3pp
Bus
2021 count
168
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
168
0.5%
-0.5pp
Tram
2021 count
3
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
3
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
3
0.0%
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
14
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
14
0.0%
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
17,361
% of total
56.0%
Change from 2016
-14.6pp
17,361
56.0%
-14.6pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
1,098
% of total
3.5%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,098
3.5%
-1.0pp
Truck
2021 count
319
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
319
1.0%
-0.2pp
Motorbike
2021 count
87
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
87
0.3%
-0.3pp
Bicycle
2021 count
74
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
74
0.2%
-0.2pp
Walked only
2021 count
557
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.7pp
557
1.8%
-0.7pp
Other
2021 count
302
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
302
1.0%
-0.4pp
Worked at home
2021 count
5,614
% of total
18.1%
Change from 2016
+13.3pp
5,614
18.1%
+13.3pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
5,181
% of total
16.7%
Change from 2016
+5.1pp
5,181
16.7%
+5.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
194
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
194
0.6%
-0.5pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-64
-0.3pp
Bus
-104
-0.5pp
Tram
-1
0.0pp
Ferry
-12
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
-4
-0.1pp
Car - as driver
-2,118
-14.6pp
Car - as passenger
-156
-1.0pp
Truck
-2
-0.2pp
Motorbike
-74
-0.3pp
Bicycle
-38
-0.2pp
Walked only
-128
-0.7pp
Other
-75
-0.4pp
Worked at home
+4,294
+13.3pp
Did not go to work
+1,984
+5.1pp
Not stated
-116
-0.5pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Port Stephens (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 14 | 0.0% | 0.2% | 78 | 0.3% | 0.9% | -64 | -0.3pp |
| Bus | 168 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 272 | 1.0% | 0.9% | -104 | -0.5pp |
| Tram | 3 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 4 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 3 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 15 | 0.1% | 0.0% | -12 | -0.1pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 14 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 18 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -4 | -0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 17,361 | 56.0% | 60.3% | 19,479 | 70.6% | 68.4% | -2,118 | -14.6pp |
| Car - as passenger | 1,098 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 1,254 | 4.5% | 5.0% | -156 | -1.0pp |
| Truck | 319 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 321 | 1.2% | 1.2% | -2 | -0.2pp |
| Motorbike | 87 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 161 | 0.6% | 0.6% | -74 | -0.3pp |
| Bicycle | 74 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 112 | 0.4% | 0.6% | -38 | -0.2pp |
| Walked only | 557 | 1.8% | 2.9% | 685 | 2.5% | 3.5% | -128 | -0.7pp |
| Other | 302 | 1.0% | 1.0% | 377 | 1.4% | 1.3% | -75 | -0.4pp |
| Worked at home | 5,614 | 18.1% | 15.7% | 1,320 | 4.8% | 5.8% | +4,294 | +13.3pp |
| Did not go to work | 5,181 | 16.7% | 12.5% | 3,197 | 11.6% | 10.5% | +1,984 | +5.1pp |
| Not stated | 194 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 310 | 1.1% | 1.2% | -116 | -0.5pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 30,989 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 27,603 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,386 | 0.0pp |