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, working from home was the most common travel method among employed residents in Willoughby (C), accounting for 54.5% (20,316 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 18,056 people and 48.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Method of travel to work

Willoughby (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)

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

Method of travel to work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Train

-6,909

-19.1pp

Bus

-3,603

-9.9pp

Tram

-10

0.0pp

Ferry

-7

0.0pp

Taxi/ride-share

-53

-0.2pp

Car - as driver

-5,585

-15.9pp

Car - as passenger

-376

-1.1pp

Truck

-18

0.0pp

Motorbike

-111

-0.3pp

Bicycle

-205

-0.6pp

Walked only

-1,221

-3.5pp

Other

-131

-0.4pp

Worked at home

+18,056

+48.3pp

Did not go to work

+1,267

+3.2pp

Not stated

-108

-0.3pp

Data table

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

Method of travel to work for Willoughby (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Method of travel to work for Willoughby (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Train1,6274.4%4.1%8,53623.5%16.2%-6,909-19.1pp
Bus7732.1%1.4%4,37612.0%6.1%-3,603-9.9pp
Tram00.0%0.1%100.0%0.1%-100.0pp
Ferry00.0%0.0%70.0%0.3%-70.0pp
Taxi/ride-share460.1%0.1%990.3%0.2%-53-0.2pp
Car - as driver7,55620.3%34.2%13,14136.2%52.7%-5,585-15.9pp
Car - as passenger7151.9%2.6%1,0913.0%3.9%-376-1.1pp
Truck630.2%0.6%810.2%0.9%-180.0pp
Motorbike1540.4%0.4%2650.7%0.7%-111-0.3pp
Bicycle1290.3%0.4%3340.9%0.7%-205-0.6pp
Walked only1,6374.4%2.3%2,8587.9%4.0%-1,221-3.5pp
Other2290.6%0.8%3601.0%1.1%-131-0.4pp
Worked at home20,31654.5%38.9%2,2606.2%4.4%+18,056+48.3pp
Did not go to work3,94310.6%13.6%2,6767.4%7.8%+1,267+3.2pp
Not stated1230.3%0.4%2310.6%0.9%-108-0.3pp
Total employed persons aged 15+37,311100.0%100.0%36,325100.0%100.0%+9860.0pp