Greater Brisbane
Method of travel to work
On Census day 2021 in Greater Brisbane, 59.2% of people travelled to work in a private car, 6.2% took public transport and 2.9% rode a bike or walked. 17.4% worked at home.
Greater Brisbane'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.
Derived from the Census question:
'How did the person get to work on Tuesday, 10 August 2021?'
Employed persons aged 15 years and over
| Method of travel to work | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Brisbane - Employed persons (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2006 | Change | |||||
| Main method of travel | Number | % | Regional WA % | Number | % | Regional WA % | 2006 to 2021 | |
| Train | 39,321 | 3.2 | 0.1 | 53,314 | 5.9 | 0.1 | -13,993 | 16001 |
| Bus | 36,318 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 44,975 | 5.0 | 2.5 | -8,657 | 16003 |
| Tram | 77 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 134 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -57 | 16005 |
| Ferry | 1,512 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2,351 | 0.3 | 0.0 | -839 | 16006 |
| Taxi/ride-share | 3,938 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 2,327 | 0.3 | 0.3 | +1,611 | 16007 |
| Car - as driver | 685,832 | 55.1 | 62.6 | 523,641 | 58.2 | 56.0 | +162,191 | 16009 |
| Car - as passenger | 50,858 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 55,845 | 6.2 | 7.5 | -4,988 | 16011 |
| Truck | 8,933 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 13,392 | 1.5 | 1.5 | -4,459 | 16013 |
| Motorbike | 8,970 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 9,460 | 1.1 | 0.6 | -491 | 16015 |
| Bicycle | 8,997 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 8,113 | 0.9 | 1.1 | +884 | 16017 |
| Walked only | 27,500 | 2.2 | 4.5 | 27,671 | 3.1 | 7.6 | -172 | 16019 |
| Other | 14,640 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 9,500 | 1.1 | 2.1 | +5,140 | 16021 |
| Worked at home | 217,138 | 17.4 | 7.1 | 36,743 | 4.1 | 7.4 | +180,394 | 16023 |
| Did not go to work | 135,774 | 10.9 | 11.8 | 98,268 | 10.9 | 11.3 | +37,506 | 16025 |
| Not stated | 4,990 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 13,901 | 1.5 | 1.9 | -8,912 | 16027 |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 1,244,798 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 899,640 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +345,158 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2006 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (opens a new window)(informed decisions).
(Usual residence data)
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Compiled and presented in profile.id by .id (informed decisions).
Dominant groups
In 2021, there were 77,228 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Greater Brisbane, compared with 754,593 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 Brisbane in 2021, compared to Regional WA, shows that 6.2% used public transport, while 59.2% used a private vehicle, compared with 2.8% and 68.1% respectively in Regional WA.
The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of Greater Brisbane and Regional WA were:
- A larger percentage of persons who worked at home (17.4% compared to 7.1%)
- A larger percentage of persons who travelled by train (3.2% compared to 0.1%)
- A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by car (as driver) (55.1% compared to 62.6%)
- A smaller percentage of persons who walked only (2.2% compared to 4.5%)
Emerging groups
The number of employed people in Greater Brisbane increased by 345,158 between 2006 and 2021.
The largest changes in the method of travel to work by resident population in Greater Brisbane between 2006 and 2021 were for those nominated:
- Worked at home (+180,394 persons)
- Car - as driver (+162,191 persons)
- Did not go to work (+37,506 persons)
- Train (-13,993 persons)