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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Melbourne

Method of travel to work

On Census day 2021 in Greater Melbourne, 49.7% of people travelled to work in a private car, 5.3% took public transport and 2.7% rode a bike or walked. 28.8% worked at home.

Greater Melbourne's commuting statistics reveal the main modes of transport by which residents get to work. There are a number of reasons why people use different modes of transport to get to work including the availability of affordable and effective public transport options, the number of motor vehicles available within a household, and the distance travelled to work.

Commuting data is very useful in transport planning as it informs decision-makers about the availability, effectiveness and utilisation of local transport options, particularly when analysed with Residents Place of Work data and Car Ownership.

WARNING: Method of travel to work relates to Census day, which for the 2021 Census occurred during COVID-19 lockdowns for large parts of Australia. In lockdown, many occupations were required to work from home if possible, and some industries were closed, so people did not go to work. For this reason, these categories may have increased, with corresponding declines in other methods of travel. Use the data with caution when comparing over time. For more details, please refer to the data notes.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'How did the person get to work on Tuesday, 10 August 2021?'

Method of travel to work
Greater Melbourne - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%South Australia %Number%South Australia %2016 to 2021
Train87,8123.61.0242,96911.51.9-155,157
Bus20,3670.83.831,9371.54.7-11,570
Tram20,4080.80.350,8542.40.4-30,446
Ferry4260.00.04270.00.0-1
Taxi/ride-share5,4240.20.34,0320.20.2+1,392
Car - as driver1,136,18646.563.91,274,26460.266.0-138,078
Car - as passenger78,0843.24.381,7613.94.6-3,677
Truck11,6020.50.511,8940.60.6-292
Motorbike5,7470.20.47,6050.40.5-1,858
Bicycle18,0990.70.929,7151.41.0-11,616
Walked only48,3262.02.563,2153.02.8-14,889
Other23,6701.01.325,6361.21.5-1,966
Worked at home705,32928.89.688,6924.24.4+616,637
Did not go to work273,41411.210.8183,7298.710.7+89,685
Not stated10,0980.40.518,7560.90.9-8,658
Total employed persons aged 15+2,444,992100.0100.02,115,486100.0100.0+329,506
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

In 2021, there were 129,013 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Greater Melbourne, compared with 1,231,619 who drove in private vehicles (car – as driver, car – as passenger, motorbike, or truck).

Analysis of the method of travel to work of the residents in Greater Melbourne in 2021, compared to South Australia, shows that 5.3% used public transport, while 49.7% used a private vehicle, compared with 5.1% and 68.2% respectively in South Australia.

The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of Greater Melbourne and South Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who worked at home (28.8% compared to 9.6%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who travelled by train (3.6% compared to 1.0%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by car (as driver) (46.5% compared to 63.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by bus (0.8% compared to 3.8%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Greater Melbourne increased by 329,506 between 2016 and 2021.

The largest changes in the method of travel to work by resident population in Greater Melbourne between 2016 and 2021 were for those nominated:

  • Worked at home (+616,637 persons)
  • Train (-155,157 persons)
  • Car - as driver (-138,078 persons)
  • Did not go to work (+89,685 persons)

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