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LEARN MORE ABOUT .idOn Census day 2021 in New South Wales, 50.2% of males travelled to work in a private car, 3.8% took public transport and 2.9% rode a bike or walked. 28.0% worked at home.
New South Wales'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 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales - Employed males (Usual residence) | 2021 | 2011 | Change | ||||
| Main method of travel | Number | % | Australia % | Number | % | Australia % | 2011 to 2021 |
| Train | 52,426 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 152,410 | 9.1 | 6.1 | -99,984 |
| Bus | 18,621 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 59,763 | 3.6 | 3.1 | -41,142 |
| Tram | 725 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 661 | 0.0 | 0.4 | +64 |
| Ferry | 805 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4,157 | 0.2 | 0.1 | -3,352 |
| Taxi/ride-share | 2,328 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 4,720 | 0.3 | 0.3 | -2,392 |
| Car - as driver | 903,605 | 47.7 | 56.7 | 1,014,691 | 60.6 | 63.0 | -111,086 |
| Car - as passenger | 48,997 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 69,834 | 4.2 | 4.6 | -20,837 |
| Truck | 25,797 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 37,641 | 2.2 | 1.9 | -11,844 |
| Motorbike | 13,193 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 17,342 | 1.0 | 1.1 | -4,149 |
| Bicycle | 10,963 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 18,794 | 1.1 | 1.5 | -7,831 |
| Walked only | 44,925 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 64,907 | 3.9 | 3.6 | -19,982 |
| Other | 21,009 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 23,276 | 1.4 | 1.7 | -2,267 |
| Worked at home | 531,650 | 28.0 | 18.9 | 64,449 | 3.8 | 3.7 | +467,201 |
| Did not go to work | 210,742 | 11.1 | 9.3 | 115,444 | 6.9 | 7.5 | +95,298 |
| Not stated | 10,044 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 26,278 | 1.6 | 1.5 | -16,234 |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 1,895,830 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 1,674,367 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +221,463 |
Dominant groups
In 2021, there were 72,577 males who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in New South Wales, compared with 991,592 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 New South Wales in 2021, compared to Australia, shows that 3.8% used public transport, while 50.2% used a private vehicle, compared with 4.3% and 59.9% respectively in Australia.
The major differences in males between the method of travel to work of New South Wales and Australia were:
- A larger percentage of males who worked at home (28.0% compared to 18.9%)
- A larger percentage of males who did not go to work (11.1% compared to 9.3%)
- A smaller percentage of males who travelled by car (as driver) (47.7% compared to 56.7%)
Emerging groups
The number of employed males in New South Wales increased by 221,463 between 2011 and 2021.
The largest changes in the method of travel to work by male resident population in New South Wales between 2011 and 2021 were for those nominated:
- Worked at home (+467,201 males)
- Car - as driver (-111,086 males)
- Train (-99,984 males)
- Did not go to work (+95,298 males)
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