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 Wollongong (C), accounting for 48.3% (47,369 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (60.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in working from home, which increased by 22,975 people and 23.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Method of travel to work
Wollongong (C) - Employed persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises method of travel to work for Wollongong (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Method of travel to work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wollongong (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Train
2021 count
1,132
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-4.3pp
1,132
1.2%
-4.3pp
Bus
2021 count
869
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
869
0.9%
-1.1pp
Tram
2021 count
6
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
6
0.0%
0.0pp
Ferry
2021 count
9
% of total
0.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
9
0.0%
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
2021 count
105
% of total
0.1%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
105
0.1%
0.0pp
Car - as driver
2021 count
47,369
% of total
48.3%
Change from 2016
-18.0pp
47,369
48.3%
-18.0pp
Car - as passenger
2021 count
2,900
% of total
3.0%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
2,900
3.0%
-1.9pp
Truck
2021 count
584
% of total
0.6%
Change from 2016
-0.1pp
584
0.6%
-0.1pp
Motorbike
2021 count
325
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
325
0.3%
-0.2pp
Bicycle
2021 count
416
% of total
0.4%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
416
0.4%
-0.3pp
Walked only
2021 count
1,984
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
1,984
2.0%
-1.0pp
Other
2021 count
754
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
754
0.8%
-0.2pp
Worked at home
2021 count
26,041
% of total
26.6%
Change from 2016
+23.1pp
26,041
26.6%
+23.1pp
Did not go to work
2021 count
15,206
% of total
15.5%
Change from 2016
+4.6pp
15,206
15.5%
+4.6pp
Not stated
2021 count
321
% of total
0.3%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
321
0.3%
-0.6pp
Chart view
Method of travel to work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Train
-3,679
-4.3pp
Bus
-936
-1.1pp
Tram
-5
0.0pp
Ferry
-4
0.0pp
Taxi/ride-share
-18
0.0pp
Car - as driver
-11,168
-18.0pp
Car - as passenger
-1,397
-1.9pp
Truck
-75
-0.1pp
Motorbike
-105
-0.2pp
Bicycle
-161
-0.3pp
Walked only
-647
-1.0pp
Other
-167
-0.2pp
Worked at home
+22,975
+23.1pp
Did not go to work
+5,602
+4.6pp
Not stated
-468
-0.6pp
Data table
Method of travel to work for Wollongong (C). Method of travel to work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Train | 1,132 | 1.2% | 0.2% | 4,811 | 5.5% | 0.9% | -3,679 | -4.3pp |
| Bus | 869 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 1,805 | 2.0% | 0.9% | -936 | -1.1pp |
| Tram | 6 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 11 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -5 | 0.0pp |
| Ferry | 9 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 13 | 0.0% | 0.0% | -4 | 0.0pp |
| Taxi/ride-share | 105 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 123 | 0.1% | 0.1% | -18 | 0.0pp |
| Car - as driver | 47,369 | 48.3% | 60.3% | 58,537 | 66.3% | 68.4% | -11,168 | -18.0pp |
| Car - as passenger | 2,900 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 4,297 | 4.9% | 5.0% | -1,397 | -1.9pp |
| Truck | 584 | 0.6% | 1.0% | 659 | 0.7% | 1.2% | -75 | -0.1pp |
| Motorbike | 325 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 430 | 0.5% | 0.6% | -105 | -0.2pp |
| Bicycle | 416 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 577 | 0.7% | 0.6% | -161 | -0.3pp |
| Walked only | 1,984 | 2.0% | 2.9% | 2,631 | 3.0% | 3.5% | -647 | -1.0pp |
| Other | 754 | 0.8% | 1.0% | 921 | 1.0% | 1.3% | -167 | -0.2pp |
| Worked at home | 26,041 | 26.6% | 15.7% | 3,066 | 3.5% | 5.8% | +22,975 | +23.1pp |
| Did not go to work | 15,206 | 15.5% | 12.5% | 9,604 | 10.9% | 10.5% | +5,602 | +4.6pp |
| Not stated | 321 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 789 | 0.9% | 1.2% | -468 | -0.6pp |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 98,021 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 88,274 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +9,747 | 0.0pp |