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 Somerset (R), accounting for 62.8% (6,441 people). This share was higher than Greater Brisbane (55.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 515 people and 4.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Somerset (R) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Train

-42

-0.5pp

Bus

+15

+0.1pp

Tram

0

0.0pp

Ferry

0

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

+3

0.0pp

Car - as driver

+452

-1.8pp

Car - as passenger

+57

0.0pp

Truck

-8

-0.3pp

Motorbike

-17

-0.3pp

Bicycle

-3

0.0pp

Walked only

-25

-0.5pp

Other

+13

0.0pp

Worked at home

+515

+4.2pp

Did not go to work

+74

-0.4pp

Not stated

-44

-0.6pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Somerset (R). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.

Method of travel to work for Somerset (R). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
Method of travel to work for Somerset (R). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Brisbane.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Brisbane%Count%Greater Brisbane%Countpp
Train610.6%3.2%1031.1%5.8%-42-0.5pp
Bus560.5%2.9%410.4%5.4%+15+0.1pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.1%00.0%0.2%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share80.1%0.3%50.1%0.2%+30.0pp
Car - as driver6,44162.8%55.1%5,98964.6%61.2%+452-1.8pp
Car - as passenger5275.1%4.1%4705.1%5.0%+570.0pp
Truck1891.8%0.7%1972.1%0.9%-8-0.3pp
Motorbike530.5%0.7%700.8%1.0%-17-0.3pp
Bicycle200.2%0.7%230.2%1.1%-30.0pp
Walked only2742.7%2.2%2993.2%2.9%-25-0.5pp
Other1311.3%1.2%1181.3%1.4%+130.0pp
Worked at home1,28212.5%17.4%7678.3%4.6%+515+4.2pp
Did not go to work1,10810.8%10.9%1,03411.2%9.6%+74-0.4pp
Not stated1051.0%0.4%1491.6%0.7%-44-0.6pp
Total employed persons aged 15+10,255100.0%100.0%9,265100.0%100.0%+9900.0pp