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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Sydney

Method of travel to work

On Census day 2021 in Greater Sydney, 32.0% of females travelled to work in a private car, 5.9% took public transport and 2.7% rode a bike or walked. 42.5% 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 females (Usual residence)20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%Regional SA %Number%Regional SA %2016 to 2021
Train49,3224.20.1177,90916.70.2-128,587
Bus18,6861.60.574,6137.00.4-55,927
Tram5780.00.01,3130.10.0-735
Ferry2990.00.03,1150.30.0-2,816
Taxi/ride-share1,6930.10.21,9880.20.1-295
Car - as driver335,03328.665.2516,41848.464.9-181,385
Car - as passenger39,8063.44.953,2265.05.1-13,420
Truck2330.00.13170.00.1-84
Motorbike1,0980.10.11,7130.20.1-615
Bicycle2,0760.20.23,6160.30.2-1,540
Walked only29,6572.54.447,1914.44.7-17,534
Other7,7520.70.88,6500.80.8-898
Worked at home498,40242.59.757,9935.47.6+440,409
Did not go to work182,41515.613.1110,41510.314.5+72,000
Not stated4,3670.40.89,3170.91.3-4,950
Total employed persons aged 15+1,171,417100.0100.01,067,794100.0100.0+103,623
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 68,885 females who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Greater Sydney, compared with 376,170 who drove in private vehicles (car – as driver, car – as passenger, motorbike, or truck).

Analysis of the method of travel to work of the female residents in Greater Sydney in 2021, compared to Regional SA, shows that 5.9% used public transport, while 32.0% used a private vehicle, compared with 0.6% and 70.1% respectively in Regional SA.

The major differences in females between the method of travel to work of Greater Sydney and Regional SA were:

  • A larger percentage of females who worked at home (42.5% compared to 9.7%)
  • A larger percentage of females who travelled by train (4.2% compared to 0.1%)
  • A larger percentage of females who did not go to work (15.6% compared to 13.1%)
  • A smaller percentage of females who travelled by car (as driver) (28.6% compared to 65.2%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed females in Greater Sydney increased by 103,623 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Worked at home (+440,409 females)
  • Car - as driver (-181,385 females)
  • Train (-128,587 females)
  • Did not go to work (+72,000 females)

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