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AustraliaCommunity profile

Western Australia

Method of travel to work

On Census day 2021 in Western Australia, 66.7% of people travelled to work in a private car, 7.4% took public transport and 2.8% rode a bike or walked. 7.5% worked at home.

Western Australia'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
Western Australia - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%Regional Australia %Number%Regional Australia %2016 to 2021
Train52,6674.00.356,8064.90.8-4,139
Bus43,4613.30.949,2454.31.4-5,784
Tram570.00.11540.00.1-97
Ferry2770.00.02670.00.0+10
Taxi/ride-share4,1770.30.22,0440.20.1+2,133
Car - as driver810,96062.162.4733,03063.366.9+77,930
Car - as passenger60,3414.64.756,1684.95.2+4,173
Truck7,7170.60.88,4980.71.0-781
Motorbike3,6700.30.45,7470.50.6-2,077
Bicycle8,7460.70.611,7271.00.8-2,981
Walked only28,1152.23.331,9092.84.0-3,794
Other28,7872.21.323,1552.01.5+5,632
Worked at home98,2897.512.749,3544.35.9+48,935
Did not go to work152,79411.711.6116,70510.110.5+36,089
Not stated6,1880.50.712,9041.11.2-6,716
Total employed persons aged 15+1,306,246100.0100.01,157,713100.0100.0+148,533
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 96,462 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Western Australia, compared with 882,688 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 Western Australia in 2021, compared to Regional Australia, shows that 7.4% used public transport, while 66.7% used a private vehicle, compared with 1.3% and 67.1% respectively in Regional Australia.

The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of Western Australia and Regional Australia were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who travelled by train (4.0% compared to 0.3%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who travelled by bus (3.3% compared to 0.9%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who worked at home (7.5% compared to 12.7%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who walked only (2.2% compared to 3.3%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Western Australia increased by 148,533 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Car - as driver (+77,930 persons)
  • Worked at home (+48,935 persons)
  • Did not go to work (+36,089 persons)
  • Not stated (-6,716 persons)

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