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 Upper Hunter Shire (A), accounting for 63.6% (4,311 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (60.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 319 people and 4.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Upper Hunter Shire (A) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Upper Hunter Shire (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Upper Hunter Shire (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Upper Hunter Shire (A)
Regional NSW

Train

2021 count

3

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bus

2021 count

13

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Tram

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Ferry

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

0

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

4,311

% of total

63.6%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

279

% of total

4.1%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Truck

2021 count

69

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Motorbike

2021 count

26

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

26

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

302

% of total

4.5%

Change from 2016

-0.9pp

Other

2021 count

134

% of total

2.0%

Change from 2016

+0.4pp

Worked at home

2021 count

830

% of total

12.2%

Change from 2016

+4.1pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

737

% of total

10.9%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

Not stated

2021 count

53

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Upper Hunter Shire (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Method of travel to work for Upper Hunter Shire (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Method of travel to work for Upper Hunter Shire (A). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Train30.0%0.2%60.1%0.9%-3-0.1pp
Bus130.2%0.6%220.3%0.9%-9-0.1pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share00.0%0.1%00.0%0.1%00.0pp
Car - as driver4,31163.6%60.3%4,09365.1%68.4%+218-1.5pp
Car - as passenger2794.1%4.2%3195.1%5.0%-40-1.0pp
Truck691.0%1.0%781.2%1.2%-9-0.2pp
Motorbike260.4%0.4%320.5%0.6%-6-0.1pp
Bicycle260.4%0.4%180.3%0.6%+8+0.1pp
Walked only3024.5%2.9%3385.4%3.5%-36-0.9pp
Other1342.0%1.0%1021.6%1.3%+32+0.4pp
Worked at home83012.2%15.7%5118.1%5.8%+319+4.1pp
Did not go to work73710.9%12.5%66510.6%10.5%+72+0.3pp
Not stated530.8%0.6%1021.6%1.2%-49-0.8pp
Total employed persons aged 15+6,783100.0%100.0%6,286100.0%100.0%+4970.0pp