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Wollongong City CouncilCommunity profile

Wollongong

Method of travel to work

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On Census day 2021 in Wollongong, 41.4% of people travelled to work in a private car, 3.9% took public transport and 9.0% rode a bike or walked. 28.7% worked at home.

Wollongong'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
Wollongong - Employed persons (Usual residence)20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%Balgownie - Tarrawanna - Fernhill %Number%Balgownie - Tarrawanna - Fernhill %2016 to 2021
Train2202.10.64916.24.3-271
Bus1931.80.53644.61.8-171
Tram0----0----0
Ferry0----0----0
Taxi/ride-share180.20.120.0--+15
Car - as driver4,10638.848.54,21653.470.0-111
Car - as passenger2762.62.93444.45.8-69
Truck230.20.9170.20.3+6
Motorbike390.40.3290.4--+9
Bicycle550.50.5911.20.5-37
Walked only8958.51.01,10414.01.3-210
Other850.80.8761.00.8+8
Worked at home3,03728.727.62483.13.5+2,789
Did not go to work1,59515.115.986010.910.7+734
Not stated420.40.4460.60.9-4
Total employed persons aged 15+10,584100.0100.07,894100.0100.0+2,689
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 413 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Wollongong, compared with 4,444 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 Wollongong in 2021, compared to Balgownie - Tarrawanna - Fernhill, shows that 3.9% used public transport, while 41.4% used a private vehicle, compared with 1.1% and 51.4% respectively in Balgownie - Tarrawanna - Fernhill.

The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of Wollongong and Balgownie - Tarrawanna - Fernhill were:

  • A larger percentage of persons who walked only (8.5% compared to 1.0%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who travelled by train (2.1% compared to 0.6%)
  • A larger percentage of persons who travelled by bus (1.8% compared to 0.5%)
  • A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by car (as driver) (38.8% compared to 48.5%)

Emerging groups

The number of employed people in Wollongong increased by 2,690 between 2016 and 2021.

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

  • Worked at home (+2,789 persons)
  • Did not go to work (+734 persons)
  • Train (-271 persons)
  • Walked only (-210 persons)

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