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 Whittlesea (C), accounting for 58.3% (62,451 people). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (46.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 18,144 people and 16.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Whittlesea (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

This table summarises method of travel to work for Whittlesea (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 Whittlesea (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.

Whittlesea (C)
Greater Melbourne

Train

2021 count

4,086

% of total

3.8%

Change from 2016

-5.6pp

Bus

2021 count

878

% of total

0.8%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

Tram

2021 count

73

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Ferry

2021 count

11

% of total

0.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

2021 count

254

% of total

0.2%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Car - as driver

2021 count

62,451

% of total

58.3%

Change from 2016

-10.9pp

Car - as passenger

2021 count

4,037

% of total

3.8%

Change from 2016

-0.4pp

Truck

2021 count

727

% of total

0.7%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Motorbike

2021 count

155

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Bicycle

2021 count

150

% of total

0.1%

Change from 2016

-0.1pp

Walked only

2021 count

641

% of total

0.6%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

Other

2021 count

1,044

% of total

1.0%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

Worked at home

2021 count

20,491

% of total

19.1%

Change from 2016

+16.4pp

Did not go to work

2021 count

11,545

% of total

10.8%

Change from 2016

+2.2pp

Not stated

2021 count

514

% of total

0.5%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Data table

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

Method of travel to work for Whittlesea (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
Method of travel to work for Whittlesea (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
Train4,0863.8%3.6%8,3149.4%11.5%-4,228-5.6pp
Bus8780.8%0.8%9411.1%1.5%-63-0.3pp
Tram730.1%0.8%2560.3%2.4%-183-0.2pp
Ferry110.0%0.0%260.0%0.0%-150.0pp
Taxi/ride-share2540.2%0.2%2210.2%0.2%+330.0pp
Car - as driver62,45158.3%46.5%61,30169.2%60.2%+1,150-10.9pp
Car - as passenger4,0373.8%3.2%3,7604.2%3.9%+277-0.4pp
Truck7270.7%0.5%7240.8%0.6%+3-0.1pp
Motorbike1550.1%0.2%2040.2%0.4%-49-0.1pp
Bicycle1500.1%0.7%1670.2%1.4%-17-0.1pp
Walked only6410.6%2.0%7020.8%3.0%-61-0.2pp
Other1,0441.0%1.0%9011.0%1.2%+1430.0pp
Worked at home20,49119.1%28.8%2,3472.7%4.2%+18,144+16.4pp
Did not go to work11,54510.8%11.2%7,6528.6%8.7%+3,893+2.2pp
Not stated5140.5%0.4%1,0381.2%0.9%-524-0.7pp
Total employed persons aged 15+107,057100.0%100.0%88,554100.0%100.0%+18,5030.0pp