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 Merriwa (WA), accounting for 64.2% (1,336 people). This share was similar to Wanneroo (C) (64.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 86 people, while its share fell by 2.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Merriwa (WA) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Merriwa (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Wanneroo (C) and change since 2016.

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Merriwa (WA), with comparison markers for Wanneroo (C).

Merriwa (WA)
Wanneroo (C)

Train

2021 count

130

% of total

6.3%

Change from 2016

+0.6pp

Bus

2021 count

47

% of total

2.3%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

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

4

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

1,336

% of total

64.2%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

115

% of total

5.5%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Truck

2021 count

17

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Motorbike

2021 count

8

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

3

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

30

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Other

2021 count

39

% of total

1.9%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Worked at home

2021 count

106

% of total

5.1%

Change from 2016

+3.0pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

235

% of total

11.3%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

Not stated

2021 count

10

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-1.0pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Merriwa (WA). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).

Method of travel to work for Merriwa (WA). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
Method of travel to work for Merriwa (WA). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Wanneroo (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Wanneroo (C)%Count%Wanneroo (C)%Countpp
Train1306.3%5.8%1085.7%7.0%+22+0.6pp
Bus472.3%1.6%532.8%2.4%-6-0.5pp
Tram00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.0%00.0%0.0%00.0pp
Taxi/ride-share40.2%0.2%30.2%0.2%+10.0pp
Car - as driver1,33664.2%64.3%1,25066.5%66.0%+86-2.3pp
Car - as passenger1155.5%4.7%1166.2%5.3%-1-0.7pp
Truck170.8%0.8%130.7%0.9%+4+0.1pp
Motorbike80.4%0.2%100.5%0.4%-2-0.1pp
Bicycle30.1%0.2%00.0%0.3%+3+0.1pp
Walked only301.4%0.9%291.5%1.1%+1-0.1pp
Other391.9%2.4%442.3%2.0%-5-0.4pp
Worked at home1065.1%6.7%402.1%3.4%+66+3.0pp
Did not go to work23511.3%11.9%1879.9%9.9%+48+1.4pp
Not stated100.5%0.4%281.5%1.1%-18-1.0pp
Total employed persons aged 15+2,080100.0%100.0%1,881100.0%100.0%+1990.0pp