Inner West Council area

Resident workers - Method of travel to work - All industries

Within the Inner West Council area, there is a higher proportion of resident All industries workers using public transport to get to work than the New South Wales workforce.

Maximising access to employment is a key objective in any economic development strategy. Understanding the modes of transport the Inner West Council area's local resident workers use (either within or outside the local area), informs decision-makers about the effectiveness of transport modes, routes and availability of local public transport.

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 between place of residence and place of work;
  • The number of motor vehicles available within a household; and
  • The travel distance to work, which for example, can allow people to walk or bicycle to their place of employment.

Method of Travel to Work data should be viewed in conjunction with resident place of work for a clearer picture of where working residents are employed.

Data source

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) – Census 2016 & 2021 – by place of work

Select industry:
Current benchmark:
reset
Resident workers method of travel to work
Inner West Council area20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%. New South Wales%Number%. New South Wales%2016 - 2021
Car, as driver21,23920.843.435,22535.457.8-13,986
Car, as passenger1,5881.63.22,6362.64.3-1,048
Train4,9804.92.824,78624.911.2-19,806
Bus1,9181.91.110,86010.94.4-8,942
Ferry1100.10.17270.70.2-617
Tram1930.20.01,4251.40.1-1,232
Truck2390.20.73400.31.0-101
Motorbike/Motor scooter6360.60.41,2041.20.6-568
Bicycle1,1701.10.42,6332.60.7-1,463
Taxi/Other2470.20.23760.40.2-129
Other - multiple methods4320.40.51,1941.21.2-762
Walked only3,4873.42.55,1805.23.9-1,693
Worked at home53,83852.731.04,6164.64.8+49,222
Did not go to work11,84911.613.27,6367.78.7+4,213
Not stated2910.30.57320.71.0-441
Total 102,217100.0100.099,570100.0100.0+2,647

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
loading animation
loading animation

Dominant groups

In 2021, there were 7,091 resident workers who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in the Inner West Council area, compared with 23,702 who drove in private vehicles (car – as driver, car – as passenger, motorbike, or truck).

Analysis of the method of travel to work of the resident workers in the Inner West Council area shows that 6.9% used public transport, while 23.2% used a private vehicle, compared with 4.0% and 47.8% respectively in New South Wales.

The major differences between the method of travel to work of the resident workers in the Inner West Council area and the New South Wales workforce were:

  • A smaller percentage of resident workers who travelled by car, as driver (20.8% compared to 43.4%)
  • A larger percentage of resident workers who worked at home (52.7% compared to 31.0%)
  • A larger percentage of resident workers who travelled by train (4.9% compared to 2.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of resident workers who travelled by car, as passenger (1.6% compared to 3.2%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the method of travel to work of the resident workers in the Inner West Council area between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • Worked at home (+49,222 resident workers)
  • Train (-19,806 resident workers)
  • Car, as driver (-13,986 resident workers)
  • Bus (-8,942 resident workers)

Inner West Council

economic profile