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 Thursday Island, accounting for 39.3% (486 people). This share was higher than Torres (S) (36.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 55 people and 1.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Thursday Island - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Thursday Island in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Torres (S) and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Thursday Island, with comparison markers for Torres (S).

Thursday Island
Torres (S)

Train

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Bus

2021 count

13

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Tram

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

10

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

16

% of total

1.3%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

486

% of total

39.3%

Change from 2016

+1.5pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

153

% of total

12.4%

Change from 2016

-1.6pp

Truck

2021 count

9

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Motorbike

2021 count

5

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Bicycle

2021 count

21

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

297

% of total

24.0%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

Other

2021 count

49

% of total

4.0%

Change from 2016

-2.4pp

Worked at home

2021 count

46

% of total

3.7%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

104

% of total

8.4%

Change from 2016

+1.3pp

Not stated

2021 count

27

% of total

2.2%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Thursday Island. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Torres (S).

Method of travel to work for Thursday Island. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Torres (S).
Method of travel to work for Thursday Island. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Torres (S).
Category20212016Change
Count%Torres (S)%Count%Torres (S)%Countpp
Train00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Bus131.1%1.6%60.5%1.0%+7+0.6pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry100.8%2.5%100.9%1.7%0-0.1pp
Taxi/ride-share161.3%1.1%211.8%1.7%-5-0.5pp
Car - as driver48639.3%36.1%43137.8%35.1%+55+1.5pp
Car - as passenger15312.4%10.7%16014.0%12.6%-7-1.6pp
Truck90.7%0.7%40.4%0.3%+5+0.3pp
Motorbike50.4%0.5%80.7%0.6%-3-0.3pp
Bicycle211.7%1.8%181.6%1.3%+3+0.1pp
Walked only29724.0%24.0%27924.5%24.5%+18-0.5pp
Other494.0%6.8%736.4%9.2%-24-2.4pp
Worked at home463.7%3.9%171.5%1.9%+29+2.2pp
Did not go to work1048.4%7.8%817.1%6.4%+23+1.3pp
Not stated272.2%2.4%332.9%3.7%-6-0.7pp
Total employed persons aged 15+1,236100.0%100.0%1,141100.0%100.0%+950.0pp