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 Whitehorse (C), accounting for 40.6% (33,835 people). This share was lower than Greater Melbourne (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 25,108 people and 29.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Whitehorse (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Whitehorse (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Whitehorse (C)
Greater Melbourne

Train

2021 count

3,714

% of total

4.5%

Change from 2016

-11.6pp

Bus

2021 count

1,226

% of total

1.5%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Tram

2021 count

335

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Ferry

2021 count

6

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

143

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

+0.1pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

33,835

% of total

40.6%

Change from 2016

-16.7pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

2,616

% of total

3.1%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Truck

2021 count

216

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Motorbike

2021 count

157

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

299

% of total

0.4%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Walked only

2021 count

1,649

% of total

2.0%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Other

2021 count

690

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Worked at home

2021 count

28,574

% of total

34.3%

Change from 2016

+29.7pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

9,590

% of total

11.5%

Change from 2016

+2.1pp

Not stated

2021 count

280

% of total

0.3%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Data table

Method of travel to work for Whitehorse (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.

Method of travel to work for Whitehorse (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Method of travel to work for Whitehorse (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Melbourne%Count%Greater Melbourne%Countpp
Train3,7144.5%3.6%12,01016.1%11.5%-8,296-11.6pp
Bus1,2261.5%0.8%1,7202.3%1.5%-494-0.8pp
Tram3350.4%0.8%6250.8%2.4%-290-0.4pp
Ferry60.0%0.0%30.0%0.0%+30.0pp
Taxi/ride-share1430.2%0.2%990.1%0.2%+44+0.1pp
Car - as driver33,83540.6%46.5%42,81257.3%60.2%-8,977-16.7pp
Car - as passenger2,6163.1%3.2%2,8183.8%3.9%-202-0.7pp
Truck2160.3%0.5%2650.4%0.6%-49-0.1pp
Motorbike1570.2%0.2%2420.3%0.4%-85-0.1pp
Bicycle2990.4%0.7%5160.7%1.4%-217-0.3pp
Walked only1,6492.0%2.0%1,8172.4%3.0%-168-0.4pp
Other6900.8%1.0%7881.1%1.2%-98-0.3pp
Worked at home28,57434.3%28.8%3,4664.6%4.2%+25,108+29.7pp
Did not go to work9,59011.5%11.2%7,0429.4%8.7%+2,548+2.1pp
Not stated2800.3%0.4%4900.7%0.9%-210-0.4pp
Total employed persons aged 15+83,330100.0%100.0%74,713100.0%100.0%+8,6170.0pp