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 Thomastown, accounting for 59.2% (4,643 people). This share was higher than Whittlesea (C) (58.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in car driver, which increased by 4,632 people and 24.8 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Thomastown - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Thomastown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Whittlesea (C) and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Thomastown, with comparison markers for Whittlesea (C).
Train
2021 count
490
% of total
6.2%
Change from 2016
+6.2pp
490
6.2%
+6.2pp
Bus
2021 count
77
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
77
1.0%
+1.0pp
Tram
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
0
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
0
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
37
% of total
0.5%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
37
0.5%
+0.5pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
4,643
% of total
59.2%
Change from 2016
+24.8pp
4,643
59.2%
+24.8pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
386
% of total
4.9%
Change from 2016
+4.9pp
386
4.9%
+4.9pp
Truck
2021 count
60
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
+0.8pp
60
0.8%
+0.8pp
Motorbike
2021 count
17
% of total
0.2%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
17
0.2%
+0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
29
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
29
0.4%
+0.4pp
Walked only
2021 count
81
% of total
1.0%
Change from 2016
-20.9pp
81
1.0%
-20.9pp
Other
2021 count
104
% of total
1.3%
Change from 2016
+1.3pp
104
1.3%
+1.3pp
Worked at home
2021 count
1,131
% of total
14.4%
Change from 2016
-13.7pp
1,131
14.4%
-13.7pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
730
% of total
9.3%
Change from 2016
-6.3pp
730
9.3%
-6.3pp
Not stated
2021 count
56
% of total
0.7%
Change from 2016
+0.7pp
56
0.7%
+0.7pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
+490
+6.2pp
Bus
+77
+1.0pp
Tram
0
0.0pp
Ferry
0
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
+37
+0.5pp
Car - as driver
+4,632
+24.8pp
Car - as passenger
+386
+4.9pp
Truck
+60
+0.8pp
Motorbike
+17
+0.2pp
Bicycle
+29
+0.4pp
Walked only
+74
-20.9pp
Other
+104
+1.3pp
Worked at home
+1,122
-13.7pp
Did not go to work
+725
-6.3pp
Not stated
+56
+0.7pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Thomastown. Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Whittlesea (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | % | Whittlesea (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 490 | 6.2% | 3.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 9.4% | +490 | +6.2pp |
| Bus | 77 | 1.0% | 0.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.1% | +77 | +1.0pp |
| Tram | 0 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.3% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 37 | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +37 | +0.5pp |
| Car - as driver | 4,643 | 59.2% | 58.3% | 11 | 34.4% | 69.2% | +4,632 | +24.8pp |
| Car - as passenger | 386 | 4.9% | 3.8% | 0 | 0.0% | 4.2% | +386 | +4.9pp |
| Truck | 60 | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.8% | +60 | +0.8pp |
| Motorbike | 17 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +17 | +0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 29 | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0 | 0.0% | 0.2% | +29 | +0.4pp |
| Walked only | 81 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 7 | 21.9% | 0.8% | +74 | -20.9pp |
| Other | 104 | 1.3% | 1.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.0% | +104 | +1.3pp |
| Worked at home | 1,131 | 14.4% | 19.1% | 9 | 28.1% | 2.7% | +1,122 | -13.7pp |
| Did not go to work | 730 | 9.3% | 10.8% | 5 | 15.6% | 8.6% | +725 | -6.3pp |
| Not stated | 56 | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0 | 0.0% | 1.2% | +56 | +0.7pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 7,841 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 32 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +7,809 | 0.0pp |