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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Sydney

Method of travel to work

On Census day 2021 in Greater Sydney, 41.4% of males travelled to work in a private car, 5.3% took public transport and 2.7% rode a bike or walked. 35.4% worked at home.

Greater Sydney'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 Sydney - Employed males (Usual residence)20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%Tasmania %Number%Tasmania %2016 to 2021
Train50,5704.00.1190,65915.80.1-140,089
Bus15,0751.22.463,7275.32.4-48,652
Tram6610.10.01,3040.10.0-643
Ferry6490.10.04,3550.40.0-3,706
Taxi/ride-share1,6740.10.33,3170.30.3-1,643
Car - as driver497,23639.568.1680,85556.568.2-183,619
Car - as passenger24,1531.94.136,0533.04.7-11,900
Truck13,9711.11.319,2211.61.5-5,250
Motorbike8,6550.70.813,1801.11.0-4,525
Bicycle6,9120.51.012,8571.11.2-5,945
Walked only26,5452.14.044,3813.74.8-17,836
Other12,4391.01.416,3801.41.8-3,941
Worked at home446,09335.47.340,9103.44.3+405,183
Did not go to work148,78211.88.666,0595.58.6+82,723
Not stated5,8290.50.711,6711.01.1-5,842
Total employed persons aged 15+1,259,244100.0100.01,204,929100.0100.0+54,315
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 66,955 males who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Greater Sydney, compared with 544,015 who drove in private vehicles (car – as driver, car – as passenger, motorbike, or truck).

Analysis of the method of travel to work of the male residents in Greater Sydney in 2021, compared to Tasmania, shows that 5.3% used public transport, while 41.4% used a private vehicle, compared with 2.5% and 72.2% respectively in Tasmania.

The major differences in males between the method of travel to work of Greater Sydney and Tasmania were:

  • A larger percentage of males who worked at home (35.4% compared to 7.3%)
  • A larger percentage of males who travelled by train (4.0% compared to 0.1%)
  • A larger percentage of males who did not go to work (11.8% compared to 8.6%)
  • A smaller percentage of males who travelled by car (as driver) (39.5% compared to 68.1%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed males in Greater Sydney increased by 54,315 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Worked at home (+405,183 males)
  • Car - as driver (-183,619 males)
  • Train (-140,089 males)
  • Did not go to work (+82,723 males)

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