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 Birkdale, accounting for 62.2% (4,473 people). This share was higher than Redland (C) (61.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 820 people and 11.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Birkdale - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Birkdale, with comparison markers for Redland (C).

Birkdale
Redland (C)

Train

2021 count

230

% of total

3.2%

Change from 2016

-3.0pp

Bus

2021 count

39

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Tram

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

3

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

11

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

4,473

% of total

62.2%

Change from 2016

-5.8pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

226

% of total

3.1%

Change from 2016

-1.6pp

Truck

2021 count

58

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Motorbike

2021 count

41

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Bicycle

2021 count

11

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

49

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Other

2021 count

73

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Worked at home

2021 count

1,151

% of total

16.0%

Change from 2016

+11.3pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

812

% of total

11.3%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

Not stated

2021 count

20

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Birkdale. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Redland (C).

Method of travel to work for Birkdale. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Redland (C).
Method of travel to work for Birkdale. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Redland (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Redland (C)%Count%Redland (C)%Countpp
Train2303.2%1.6%4366.2%3.3%-206-3.0pp
Bus390.5%1.3%951.3%2.6%-56-0.8pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry30.0%0.1%00.0%0.1%+30.0pp
Taxi/ride-share110.2%0.1%90.1%0.1%+2+0.1pp
Car - as driver4,47362.2%61.6%4,81568.0%68.0%-342-5.8pp
Car - as passenger2263.1%3.7%3364.7%4.4%-110-1.6pp
Truck580.8%0.9%620.9%1.1%-4-0.1pp
Motorbike410.6%0.6%600.8%0.8%-19-0.2pp
Bicycle110.2%0.3%220.3%0.4%-11-0.1pp
Walked only490.7%1.1%831.2%1.5%-34-0.5pp
Other731.0%1.9%1041.5%2.2%-31-0.5pp
Worked at home1,15116.0%15.2%3314.7%5.0%+820+11.3pp
Did not go to work81211.3%11.3%70610.0%9.8%+106+1.3pp
Not stated200.3%0.4%250.4%0.6%-5-0.1pp
Total employed persons aged 15+7,197100.0%100.0%7,084100.0%100.0%+1130.0pp