Tasmania
Method of travel to work
On Census day 2016 in Tasmania, 71.1% of people travelled to work in a private car, 3.0% took public transport and 5.6% rode a bike or walked. 4.7% worked at home.
Tasmania'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 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tasmania - Employed persons (Usual residence) | 2016 | 2011 | Change | |||||
| Main method of travel | Number | % | Western Australia % | Number | % | Western Australia % | 2011 to 2016 | |
| Train | 144 | 0.1 | 4.9 | 44 | 0.0 | 5.1 | +100 | 16001 |
| Bus | 6,199 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 6,584 | 3.0 | 4.2 | -385 | 16003 |
| Tram | 40 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | +31 | 16005 |
| Ferry | 35 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 45 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -10 | 16006 |
| Taxi/ride-share | 570 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 554 | 0.3 | 0.2 | +16 | 16007 |
| Car - as driver | 141,399 | 65.3 | 63.3 | 137,152 | 63.1 | 60.4 | +4,247 | 16009 |
| Car - as passenger | 12,540 | 5.8 | 4.9 | 14,837 | 6.8 | 5.8 | -2,297 | 16011 |
| Truck | 1,691 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2,058 | 0.9 | 1.0 | -367 | 16013 |
| Motorbike | 1,293 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1,147 | 0.5 | 0.6 | +146 | 16015 |
| Bicycle | 1,660 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1,374 | 0.6 | 1.1 | +286 | 16017 |
| Walked only | 10,440 | 4.8 | 2.8 | 10,865 | 5.0 | 3.3 | -425 | 16019 |
| Other | 2,915 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2,847 | 1.3 | 2.0 | +68 | 16021 |
| Worked at home | 10,135 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 9,710 | 4.5 | 4.0 | +425 | 16023 |
| Did not go to work | 25,259 | 11.7 | 10.1 | 26,890 | 12.4 | 11.0 | -1,631 | 16025 |
| Not stated | 2,255 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 3,177 | 1.5 | 1.4 | -922 | 16027 |
| Total employed persons aged 15+ | 216,575 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 217,293 | 100.0 | 100.0 | -718 | |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing (opens a new window) 2011 and 2016. 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 2016, there were 6,418 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Tasmania, compared with 156,923 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 Tasmania in 2016, compared to Western Australia, shows that 3.0% used public transport, while 71.1% used a private vehicle, compared with 9.2% and 68.2% respectively in Western Australia.
The major differences in persons between the method of travel to work of Tasmania and Western Australia were:
- A larger percentage of persons who walked only (4.8% compared to 2.8%)
- A larger percentage of persons who travelled by car (as driver) (65.3% compared to 63.3%)
- A larger percentage of persons who did not go to work (11.7% compared to 10.1%)
- A smaller percentage of persons who travelled by train (0.1% compared to 4.9%)
Emerging groups
The number of employed people in Tasmania decreased by 718 between 2011 and 2016.
The largest changes in the method of travel to work by resident population in Tasmania between 2011 and 2016 were for those nominated:
- Car - as driver (+4,247 persons)
- Car - as passenger (-2,297 persons)
- Did not go to work (-1,631 persons)
- Not stated (-922 persons)