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 Townsville (C), accounting for 70.6% (66,345 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (64.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 4,906 people, while its share fell by 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Townsville (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Townsville (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Townsville (C), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Train
2021 count
33
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
33
0.0%
-0.1pp
Bus
2021 count
1,036
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
1,036
1.1%
-0.3pp
Tram
2021 count
3
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
3
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
51
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
51
0.1%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
251
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
251
0.3%
+0.1pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
66,345
% of total
70.6%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
66,345
70.6%
-0.5pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
5,042
% of total
5.4%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
5,042
5.4%
-0.5pp
Truck
2021 count
619
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
619
0.7%
0.0pp
Motorbike
2021 count
902
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
902
1.0%
-0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
921
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
921
1.0%
-0.5pp
Walked only
2021 count
2,065
% of total
2.2%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
2,065
2.2%
-0.5pp
Other
2021 count
1,754
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
1,754
1.9%
+0.1pp
Worked at home
2021 count
4,789
% of total
5.1%
Change from 2016
+2.4pp
4,789
5.1%
+2.4pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
9,816
% of total
10.4%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
9,816
10.4%
+0.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
353
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
353
0.4%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-13
-0.1pp
Bus
-210
-0.3pp
Tram
-5
0.0pp
Ferry
-12
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+110
+0.1pp
Car - as driver
+4,906
-0.5pp
Car - as passenger
-64
-0.5pp
Truck
-21
0.0pp
Motorbike
-170
-0.2pp
Bicycle
-374
-0.5pp
Walked only
-301
-0.5pp
Other
+214
+0.1pp
Worked at home
+2,413
+2.4pp
Did not go to work
+1,343
+0.6pp
Not stated
-289
-0.3pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Townsville (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 33 | 0.0% | 0.4% | 46 | 0.1% | 0.6% | -13 | -0.1pp |
| Bus | 1,036 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1,246 | 1.4% | 1.7% | -210 | -0.3pp |
| Tram | 3 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 8 | 0.0% | 0.2% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 51 | 0.1% | 0.0% | 63 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -12 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 251 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 141 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +110 | +0.1pp |
| Car - as driver | 66,345 | 70.6% | 64.2% | 61,439 | 71.1% | 67.0% | +4,906 | -0.5pp |
| Car - as passenger | 5,042 | 5.4% | 4.9% | 5,106 | 5.9% | 5.5% | -64 | -0.5pp |
| Truck | 619 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 640 | 0.7% | 1.0% | -21 | 0.0pp |
| Motorbike | 902 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1,072 | 1.2% | 0.8% | -170 | -0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 921 | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1,295 | 1.5% | 0.9% | -374 | -0.5pp |
| Walked only | 2,065 | 2.2% | 3.0% | 2,366 | 2.7% | 3.7% | -301 | -0.5pp |
| Other | 1,754 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1,540 | 1.8% | 1.7% | +214 | +0.1pp |
| Worked at home | 4,789 | 5.1% | 10.6% | 2,376 | 2.7% | 6.0% | +2,413 | +2.4pp |
| Did not go to work | 9,816 | 10.4% | 11.2% | 8,473 | 9.8% | 9.7% | +1,343 | +0.6pp |
| Not stated | 353 | 0.4% | 0.6% | 642 | 0.7% | 1.0% | -289 | -0.3pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 93,980 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 86,453 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,527 | 0.0pp |