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 Surf Coast (S), accounting for 51.3% (9,625 people). This share was lower than Regional Vic. (61.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 3,998 people and 19.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Surf Coast (S) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Surf Coast (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Surf Coast (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..

Surf Coast (S)
Regional Vic.

Train

2021 count

76

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-2.4pp

Bus

2021 count

50

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Tram

2021 count

8

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Ferry

2021 count

5

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

4

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

9,625

% of total

51.3%

Change from 2016

-14.2pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

531

% of total

2.8%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Truck

2021 count

95

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Motorbike

2021 count

31

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Bicycle

2021 count

109

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

502

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Other

2021 count

174

% of total

0.9%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Worked at home

2021 count

5,239

% of total

27.9%

Change from 2016

+19.1pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

2,229

% of total

11.9%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Not stated

2021 count

87

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Surf Coast (S). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..

Method of travel to work for Surf Coast (S). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Method of travel to work for Surf Coast (S). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional Vic.%Count%Regional Vic.%Countpp
Train760.4%0.4%3912.8%1.4%-315-2.4pp
Bus500.3%0.5%970.7%0.7%-47-0.4pp
Tram80.0%0.0%180.1%0.0%-10-0.1pp
Ferry50.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%+50.0pp
Taxi/ride-share40.0%0.1%90.1%0.1%-5-0.1pp
Car - as driver9,62551.3%61.6%9,22865.5%67.3%+397-14.2pp
Car - as passenger5312.8%4.5%4873.5%4.6%+44-0.7pp
Truck950.5%0.7%940.7%0.8%+1-0.2pp
Motorbike310.2%0.3%220.2%0.4%+90.0pp
Bicycle1090.6%0.6%920.7%0.7%+17-0.1pp
Walked only5022.7%3.3%4253.0%3.9%+77-0.3pp
Other1740.9%1.0%1411.0%1.2%+33-0.1pp
Worked at home5,23927.9%15.1%1,2418.8%6.2%+3,998+19.1pp
Did not go to work2,22911.9%11.1%1,69312.0%11.4%+536-0.1pp
Not stated870.5%0.7%1471.0%1.3%-60-0.5pp
Total employed persons aged 15+18,765100.0%100.0%14,085100.0%100.0%+4,6800.0pp