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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Sydney

Method of travel to work

On Census day 2021 in Greater Sydney, 36.9% of people travelled to work in a private car, 5.6% took public transport and 2.7% rode a bike or walked. 38.9% 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 persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%Northern Territory %Number%Northern Territory %2016 to 2021
Train99,8934.10.1368,57216.20.1-268,679
Bus33,7701.42.5138,3406.16.1-104,570
Tram1,2430.10.02,6160.10.0-1,373
Ferry9540.00.07,4690.30.0-6,515
Taxi/ride-share3,3670.10.35,3050.20.3-1,938
Car - as driver832,27734.263.41,197,26652.760.2-364,989
Car - as passenger63,9542.66.689,2743.96.8-25,320
Truck14,2030.60.519,5390.90.5-5,336
Motorbike9,7570.41.114,8960.71.4-5,139
Bicycle8,9900.42.016,4760.72.5-7,486
Walked only56,2062.37.691,5774.08.5-35,371
Other20,2010.82.225,0261.12.1-4,825
Worked at home944,50138.94.298,9064.42.6+845,595
Did not go to work331,20013.68.5176,4677.87.5+154,733
Not stated10,2020.40.920,9860.91.4-10,784
Total employed persons aged 15+2,430,718100.0100.02,272,715100.0100.0+158,003
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 135,860 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Greater Sydney, compared with 920,191 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 Sydney in 2021, compared to Northern Territory, shows that 5.6% used public transport, while 36.9% used a private vehicle, compared with 2.6% and 70.0% respectively in Northern Territory.

The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of Greater Sydney and Northern Territory were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who worked at home (38.9% compared to 4.2%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who did not go to work (13.6% compared to 8.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by car (as driver) (34.2% compared to 63.4%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who walked only (2.3% compared to 7.6%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Greater Sydney increased by 158,003 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Worked at home (+845,595 persons)
  • Car - as driver (-364,989 persons)
  • Train (-268,679 persons)
  • Did not go to work (+154,733 persons)

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