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 Shellharbour (C), accounting for 57.5% (19,838 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (60.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 5,559 people and 15.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Shellharbour (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Train

-442

-1.6pp

Bus

-79

-0.3pp

Tram

-4

0.0pp

Ferry

-1

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

+4

0.0pp

Car - as driver

-1,928

-16.0pp

Car - as passenger

-338

-1.7pp

Truck

-39

-0.3pp

Motorbike

-8

-0.1pp

Bicycle

-12

-0.1pp

Walked only

-66

-0.4pp

Other

-7

-0.2pp

Worked at home

+5,559

+15.7pp

Did not go to work

+2,382

+5.3pp

Not stated

-101

-0.5pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Shellharbour (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Method of travel to work for Shellharbour (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Method of travel to work for Shellharbour (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Train1890.5%0.2%6312.1%0.9%-442-1.6pp
Bus1920.6%0.6%2710.9%0.9%-79-0.3pp
Tram00.0%0.0%40.0%0.0%-40.0pp
Ferry70.0%0.0%80.0%0.0%-10.0pp
Taxi/ride-share210.1%0.1%170.1%0.1%+40.0pp
Car - as driver19,83857.5%60.3%21,76673.5%68.4%-1,928-16.0pp
Car - as passenger1,1213.2%4.2%1,4594.9%5.0%-338-1.7pp
Truck2720.8%1.0%3111.1%1.2%-39-0.3pp
Motorbike1000.3%0.4%1080.4%0.6%-8-0.1pp
Bicycle630.2%0.4%750.3%0.6%-12-0.1pp
Walked only3180.9%2.9%3841.3%3.5%-66-0.4pp
Other2890.8%1.0%2961.0%1.3%-7-0.2pp
Worked at home6,38918.5%15.7%8302.8%5.8%+5,559+15.7pp
Did not go to work5,57616.1%12.5%3,19410.8%10.5%+2,382+5.3pp
Not stated1530.4%0.6%2540.9%1.2%-101-0.5pp
Total employed persons aged 15+34,528100.0%100.0%29,608100.0%100.0%+4,9200.0pp