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 South Perth (C), accounting for 57.6% (13,289 people). This share was lower than Greater Perth (62%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 1,374 people and 5.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

South Perth (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Perth (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.

South Perth (C)
Greater Perth

Train

2021 count

671

% of total

2.9%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Bus

2021 count

1,773

% of total

7.7%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Tram

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Ferry

2021 count

40

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

123

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

13,289

% of total

57.6%

Change from 2016

-3.1pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

1,021

% of total

4.4%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Truck

2021 count

38

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Motorbike

2021 count

59

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

342

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Walked only

2021 count

381

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Other

2021 count

384

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Worked at home

2021 count

2,378

% of total

10.3%

Change from 2016

+5.5pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

2,490

% of total

10.8%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

91

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for South Perth (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.

Method of travel to work for South Perth (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Method of travel to work for South Perth (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Perth%Count%Greater Perth%Countpp
Train6712.9%4.9%7453.6%6.1%-74-0.7pp
Bus1,7737.7%3.5%1,8699.0%4.1%-96-1.3pp
Tram00.0%0.0%120.1%0.0%-12-0.1pp
Ferry400.2%0.0%330.2%0.0%+70.0pp
Taxi/ride-share1230.5%0.4%670.3%0.2%+56+0.2pp
Car - as driver13,28957.6%62.0%12,60660.7%64.1%+683-3.1pp
Car - as passenger1,0214.4%4.4%8684.2%4.6%+153+0.2pp
Truck380.2%0.5%370.2%0.7%+10.0pp
Motorbike590.3%0.3%850.4%0.5%-26-0.1pp
Bicycle3421.5%0.6%5222.5%1.0%-180-1.0pp
Walked only3811.7%1.6%5122.5%2.1%-131-0.8pp
Other3841.7%2.1%3441.7%1.9%+400.0pp
Worked at home2,37810.3%7.6%1,0044.8%3.9%+1,374+5.5pp
Did not go to work2,49010.8%11.7%1,9079.2%9.9%+583+1.6pp
Not stated910.4%0.4%1530.7%1.0%-62-0.3pp
Total employed persons aged 15+23,080100.0%100.0%20,764100.0%100.0%+2,3160.0pp