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 Sutherland Shire (A), accounting for 39.6% (46,526 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (34.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 38,531 people and 32.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Sutherland Shire (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Sutherland Shire (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 Sutherland Shire (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Sutherland Shire (A)
Greater Sydney

Train

2021 count

3,215

% of total

2.7%

Change from 2016

-13.5pp

Bus

2021 count

205

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Tram

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

14

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

71

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

46,526

% of total

39.6%

Change from 2016

-20.9pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

2,714

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

Truck

2021 count

793

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Motorbike

2021 count

329

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

264

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Walked only

2021 count

1,851

% of total

1.6%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Other

2021 count

799

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Worked at home

2021 count

43,638

% of total

37.2%

Change from 2016

+32.7pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

16,720

% of total

14.2%

Change from 2016

+4.9pp

Not stated

2021 count

303

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Data table

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

Method of travel to work for Sutherland Shire (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Method of travel to work for Sutherland Shire (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
Train3,2152.7%4.1%18,32316.2%16.2%-15,108-13.5pp
Bus2050.2%1.4%6480.6%6.1%-443-0.4pp
Tram00.0%0.1%100.0%0.1%-100.0pp
Ferry140.0%0.0%180.0%0.3%-40.0pp
Taxi/ride-share710.1%0.1%1210.1%0.2%-500.0pp
Car - as driver46,52639.6%34.2%68,21560.5%52.7%-21,689-20.9pp
Car - as passenger2,7142.3%2.6%3,6513.2%3.9%-937-0.9pp
Truck7930.7%0.6%1,0290.9%0.9%-236-0.2pp
Motorbike3290.3%0.4%4590.4%0.7%-130-0.1pp
Bicycle2640.2%0.4%4190.4%0.7%-155-0.2pp
Walked only1,8511.6%2.3%2,4102.1%4.0%-559-0.5pp
Other7990.7%0.8%1,0310.9%1.1%-232-0.2pp
Worked at home43,63837.2%38.9%5,1074.5%4.4%+38,531+32.7pp
Did not go to work16,72014.2%13.6%10,5199.3%7.8%+6,201+4.9pp
Not stated3030.3%0.4%8160.7%0.9%-513-0.4pp
Total employed persons aged 15+117,442100.0%100.0%112,776100.0%100.0%+4,6660.0pp