Western Downs Regional Council

Local workers - Method of travel to work - All industries

Within Western Downs Regional Council, there is a lower proportion of local All industries workers using public transport to get to work than the Queensland workforce.

This data reveals the main modes of transport used by local workers in a particular industry to get to work. Workforce transport data for Western Downs Regional Council is very useful in transport planning as it informs decision-makers about the effectiveness and availability of 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 (For instance, industries located near railway stations are likely to have higher public transport use than those located away from main public transport routes);
  • The number of motor vehicles available from 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 Workers place of residence and resident place of work for a clearer picture of where people come from to work in Western Downs Regional Council, and Employment locations for the Destination Zones they work in and how they arrive there.

Data source

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

Current industry:
Current benchmark:
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Local workers method of travel to work
Western Downs Regional Council - All industries20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%. Queensland%Number%. Queensland%2016 - 2021
Car, as driver10,02460.960.39,45558.264.3+569
Car, as passenger9015.54.69836.15.3-82
Train140.11.8300.23.2-16
Bus3472.12.03041.93.4+43
Ferry30.00.230.00.1--
Tram000.170.00.1-7
Truck2021.20.82641.60.9-62
Motorbike/Motor scooter760.50.7920.60.9-16
Bicycle880.50.71260.81.0-38
Taxi/Other240.10.3110.10.2+13
Other - multiple methods1981.20.64062.51.5-208
Walked only8495.22.61,0506.53.3-201
Worked at home1,89111.513.81,5969.85.3+295
Did not go to work1,70010.311.01,74010.79.7-40
Not stated1410.90.51811.10.9-40
Total 16,458100.0100.016,248100.0100.0+210

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
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Dominant groups

In 2021, there were 361 people who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Western Downs Regional Council, compared with 11,203 who drove in private vehicles (car – as driver, car – as passenger, motorbike, or truck).

Analysis of the method of travel to work in Western Downs Regional Council in 2021 compared to the Queensland workforce within Western Downs Regional Council shows that 2.2% used public transport, while 68.1% used a private vehicle, compared with 3.9% and 66.3% respectively in Queensland.

The major differences between the method of travel to work of the workforce in Western Downs Regional Council and the Queensland workforce were:

  • A larger percentage of local workers who walked only (5.2% compared to 2.6%)
  • A smaller percentage of local workers who worked at home (11.5% compared to 13.8%)
  • A smaller percentage of local workers who travelled by train (0.1% compared to 1.8%)
  • A larger percentage of local workers who travelled by car, as passenger (5.5% compared to 4.6%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the method of travel to work of the workforce in Western Downs Regional Council between2016 and 2021 were:

  • Car, as driver (+569 local workers)
  • Worked at home (+295 local workers)
  • Other - multiple methods (-208 local workers)
  • Walked only (-201 local workers)

Western Downs Regional Council

economic profile