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 Sydney (C), accounting for 52.3% (66,323 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 61,495 people and 48.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Sydney (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Sydney (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sydney (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
Train
2021 count
7,146
% of total
5.6%
Change from 2016
-16.3pp
7,146
5.6%
-16.3pp
Bus
2021 count
4,222
% of total
3.3%
Change from 2016
-9.7pp
4,222
3.3%
-9.7pp
Tram
2021 count
562
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
562
0.4%
-0.2pp
Ferry
2021 count
32
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
32
0.0%
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
439
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
439
0.3%
-0.6pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
16,297
% of total
12.8%
Change from 2016
-7.1pp
16,297
12.8%
-7.1pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
1,567
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,567
1.2%
-1.0pp
Truck
2021 count
131
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
131
0.1%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
1,001
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
1,001
0.8%
-0.4pp
Bicycle
2021 count
2,035
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
2,035
1.6%
-1.4pp
Walked only
2021 count
11,722
% of total
9.2%
Change from 2016
-14.8pp
11,722
9.2%
-14.8pp
Other
2021 count
1,194
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
1,194
0.9%
-0.6pp
Worked at home
2021 count
66,323
% of total
52.3%
Change from 2016
+48.2pp
66,323
52.3%
+48.2pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
13,786
% of total
10.9%
Change from 2016
+4.2pp
13,786
10.9%
+4.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
441
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
441
0.3%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-18,564
-16.3pp
Bus
-10,964
-9.7pp
Tram
-143
-0.2pp
Ferry
-49
-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share
-600
-0.6pp
Car - as driver
-7,046
-7.1pp
Car - as passenger
-1,015
-1.0pp
Truck
-15
0.0pp
Motorbike
-424
-0.4pp
Bicycle
-1,466
-1.4pp
Walked only
-16,398
-14.8pp
Other
-521
-0.6pp
Worked at home
+61,495
+48.2pp
Did not go to work
+5,959
+4.2pp
Not stated
-596
-0.6pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Sydney (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 7,146 | 5.6% | 4.1% | 25,710 | 21.9% | 16.2% | -18,564 | -16.3pp |
| Bus | 4,222 | 3.3% | 1.4% | 15,186 | 13.0% | 6.1% | -10,964 | -9.7pp |
| Tram | 562 | 0.4% | 0.1% | 705 | 0.6% | 0.1% | -143 | -0.2pp |
| Ferry | 32 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 81 | 0.1% | 0.3% | -49 | -0.1pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 439 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 1,039 | 0.9% | 0.2% | -600 | -0.6pp |
| Car - as driver | 16,297 | 12.8% | 34.2% | 23,343 | 19.9% | 52.7% | -7,046 | -7.1pp |
| Car - as passenger | 1,567 | 1.2% | 2.6% | 2,582 | 2.2% | 3.9% | -1,015 | -1.0pp |
| Truck | 131 | 0.1% | 0.6% | 146 | 0.1% | 0.9% | -15 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 1,001 | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1,425 | 1.2% | 0.7% | -424 | -0.4pp |
| Bicycle | 2,035 | 1.6% | 0.4% | 3,501 | 3.0% | 0.7% | -1,466 | -1.4pp |
| Walked only | 11,722 | 9.2% | 2.3% | 28,120 | 24.0% | 4.0% | -16,398 | -14.8pp |
| Other | 1,194 | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1,715 | 1.5% | 1.1% | -521 | -0.6pp |
| Worked at home | 66,323 | 52.3% | 38.9% | 4,828 | 4.1% | 4.4% | +61,495 | +48.2pp |
| Did not go to work | 13,786 | 10.9% | 13.6% | 7,827 | 6.7% | 7.8% | +5,959 | +4.2pp |
| Not stated | 441 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 1,037 | 0.9% | 0.9% | -596 | -0.6pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 126,898 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 117,245 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +9,653 | 0.0pp |