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, working from home was the most common travel method among employed residents in Strathfield (A), accounting for 36.3% (8,279 people). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 7,634 people and 33 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Strathfield (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Strathfield (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Strathfield (A)
Greater Sydney

Train

2021 count

2,920

% of total

12.8%

Change from 2016

-21.2pp

Bus

2021 count

169

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Tram

2021 count

6

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

43

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

7,123

% of total

31.2%

Change from 2016

-12.5pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

625

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

-1.1pp

Truck

2021 count

76

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Motorbike

2021 count

148

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

+0.2pp

Bicycle

2021 count

51

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Walked only

2021 count

410

% of total

1.8%

Change from 2016

-1.4pp

Other

2021 count

219

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Worked at home

2021 count

8,279

% of total

36.3%

Change from 2016

+33.0pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

2,640

% of total

11.6%

Change from 2016

+5.3pp

Not stated

2021 count

101

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Strathfield (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Method of travel to work for Strathfield (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Method of travel to work for Strathfield (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Train2,92012.8%4.1%6,66634.0%16.2%-3,746-21.2pp
Bus1690.7%1.4%4372.2%6.1%-268-1.5pp
Tram60.0%0.1%60.0%0.1%00.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.0%00.0%0.3%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share430.2%0.1%260.1%0.2%+17+0.1pp
Car - as driver7,12331.2%34.2%8,56943.7%52.7%-1,446-12.5pp
Car - as passenger6252.7%2.6%7433.8%3.9%-118-1.1pp
Truck760.3%0.6%980.5%0.9%-22-0.2pp
Motorbike1480.6%0.4%760.4%0.7%+72+0.2pp
Bicycle510.2%0.4%690.4%0.7%-18-0.2pp
Walked only4101.8%2.3%6233.2%4.0%-213-1.4pp
Other2191.0%0.8%2131.1%1.1%+6-0.1pp
Worked at home8,27936.3%38.9%6453.3%4.4%+7,634+33.0pp
Did not go to work2,64011.6%13.6%1,2356.3%7.8%+1,405+5.3pp
Not stated1010.4%0.4%2061.1%0.9%-105-0.7pp
Total employed persons aged 15+22,810100.0%100.0%19,612100.0%100.0%+3,1980.0pp