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 Western Downs (R), accounting for 61.7% (9,321 people). This share was lower than Regional Qld (64.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 612 people and 1.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Western Downs (R) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Western Downs (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Western Downs (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Train
2021 count
10
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
10
0.1%
0.0pp
Bus
2021 count
225
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
+0.6pp
225
1.5%
+0.6pp
Tram
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
6
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
6
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
13
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
13
0.1%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
9,321
% of total
61.7%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
9,321
61.7%
+1.3pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
826
% of total
5.5%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
826
5.5%
-0.1pp
Truck
2021 count
196
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
196
1.3%
-0.4pp
Motorbike
2021 count
72
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
72
0.5%
-0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
83
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
83
0.5%
-0.3pp
Walked only
2021 count
782
% of total
5.2%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
782
5.2%
-0.9pp
Other
2021 count
236
% of total
1.6%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
236
1.6%
-0.2pp
Worked at home
2021 count
1,887
% of total
12.5%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
1,887
12.5%
+1.4pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
1,309
% of total
8.7%
Change from 2016
-0.8pp
1,309
8.7%
-0.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
133
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
133
0.9%
-0.3pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+1
0.0pp
Bus
+91
+0.6pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
+6
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
0
0.0pp
Car - as driver
+612
+1.3pp
Car - as passenger
+11
-0.1pp
Truck
-47
-0.4pp
Motorbike
-24
-0.2pp
Bicycle
-33
-0.3pp
Walked only
-102
-0.9pp
Other
-23
-0.2pp
Worked at home
+284
+1.4pp
Did not go to work
-64
-0.8pp
Not stated
-38
-0.3pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Western Downs (R). 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 | 10 | 0.1% | 0.4% | 9 | 0.1% | 0.6% | +1 | 0.0pp |
| Bus | 225 | 1.5% | 1.1% | 134 | 0.9% | 1.7% | +91 | +0.6pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 6 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | +6 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 13 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 13 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 9,321 | 61.7% | 64.2% | 8,709 | 60.4% | 67.0% | +612 | +1.3pp |
| Car - as passenger | 826 | 5.5% | 4.9% | 815 | 5.6% | 5.5% | +11 | -0.1pp |
| Truck | 196 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 243 | 1.7% | 1.0% | -47 | -0.4pp |
| Motorbike | 72 | 0.5% | 0.6% | 96 | 0.7% | 0.8% | -24 | -0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 83 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 116 | 0.8% | 0.9% | -33 | -0.3pp |
| Walked only | 782 | 5.2% | 3.0% | 884 | 6.1% | 3.7% | -102 | -0.9pp |
| Other | 236 | 1.6% | 1.5% | 259 | 1.8% | 1.7% | -23 | -0.2pp |
| Worked at home | 1,887 | 12.5% | 10.6% | 1,603 | 11.1% | 6.0% | +284 | +1.4pp |
| Did not go to work | 1,309 | 8.7% | 11.2% | 1,373 | 9.5% | 9.7% | -64 | -0.8pp |
| Not stated | 133 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 171 | 1.2% | 1.0% | -38 | -0.3pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 15,099 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 14,425 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +674 | 0.0pp |