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 Rockhampton (R), accounting for 69.5% (25,706 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (64.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 1,885 people and 0.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Rockhampton (R) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Rockhampton (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Train

-20

-0.1pp

Bus

-95

-0.4pp

Tram

0

0.0pp

Ferry

-3

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

+46

+0.1pp

Car - as driver

+1,885

+0.1pp

Car - as passenger

+39

-0.4pp

Truck

-42

-0.2pp

Motorbike

-122

-0.4pp

Bicycle

-102

-0.3pp

Walked only

-121

-0.6pp

Other

+64

+0.1pp

Worked at home

+640

+1.5pp

Did not go to work

+618

+0.9pp

Not stated

-124

-0.4pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Rockhampton (R). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.

Method of travel to work for Rockhampton (R). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Method of travel to work for Rockhampton (R). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Qld%Count%Regional Qld%Countpp
Train70.0%0.4%270.1%0.6%-20-0.1pp
Bus4471.2%1.1%5421.6%1.7%-95-0.4pp
Tram00.0%0.1%00.0%0.2%00.0pp
Ferry60.0%0.0%90.0%0.1%-30.0pp
Taxi/ride-share1470.4%0.2%1010.3%0.2%+46+0.1pp
Car - as driver25,70669.5%64.2%23,82169.4%67.0%+1,885+0.1pp
Car - as passenger2,3996.5%4.9%2,3606.9%5.5%+39-0.4pp
Truck3200.9%0.8%3621.1%1.0%-42-0.2pp
Motorbike1900.5%0.6%3120.9%0.8%-122-0.4pp
Bicycle1720.5%0.7%2740.8%0.9%-102-0.3pp
Walked only8972.4%3.0%1,0183.0%3.7%-121-0.6pp
Other4431.2%1.5%3791.1%1.7%+64+0.1pp
Worked at home1,7334.7%10.6%1,0933.2%6.0%+640+1.5pp
Did not go to work4,33611.7%11.2%3,71810.8%9.7%+618+0.9pp
Not stated1620.4%0.6%2860.8%1.0%-124-0.4pp
Total employed persons aged 15+36,965100.0%100.0%34,302100.0%100.0%+2,6630.0pp