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AustraliaCommunity profile

Regional WA

Method of travel to work

On Census day 2021 in Regional WA, 68.1% of people travelled to work in a private car, 2.8% took public transport and 5.3% rode a bike or walked. 7.1% worked at home.

Regional WA'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
Regional WA - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%Western Australia %Number%Western Australia %2016 to 2021
Train2950.14.03280.14.9-33
Bus6,6292.73.311,1314.74.3-4,502
Tram110.00.0140.00.0-3
Ferry560.00.0530.00.0+3
Taxi/ride-share4520.20.33570.20.2+95
Car - as driver153,67762.662.1142,30560.463.3+11,372
Car - as passenger13,5095.54.613,8215.94.9-312
Truck2,0300.80.62,2591.00.7-229
Motorbike8620.40.31,3980.60.5-536
Bicycle1,8730.80.72,3081.01.0-435
Walked only11,1054.52.212,6675.42.8-1,562
Other6,4452.62.25,7662.42.0+679
Worked at home17,5267.17.513,7705.84.3+3,756
Did not go to work29,02211.811.725,27710.710.1+3,745
Not stated1,9700.80.53,9721.71.1-2,002
Total employed persons aged 15+245,462100.0100.0235,426100.0100.0+10,036
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 6,991 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Regional WA, compared with 170,078 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 Regional WA in 2021, compared to Western Australia, shows that 2.8% used public transport, while 68.1% used a private vehicle, compared with 7.4% and 66.7% respectively in Western Australia.

The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of Regional WA and Western Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who walked only (4.5% compared to 2.2%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by train (0.1% compared to 4.0%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Regional WA increased by 10,036 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Car - as driver (+11,372 persons)
  • Bus (-4,502 persons)
  • Worked at home (+3,756 persons)
  • Did not go to work (+3,745 persons)

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