Perth Inner City Region

Resident workers - Method of travel to work - All industries

Within Perth Inner City Region, there is a higher proportion of resident All industries workers using public transport to get to work than the Western Australia workforce.

Maximising access to employment is a key objective in any economic development strategy. Understanding the modes of transport Perth Inner City Region'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

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Resident workers method of travel to work
Perth Inner City Region20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%. Western Australia%Number%. Western Australia%2016 - 2021
Car, as driver44,90049.162.635,89752.463.3+9,003
Car, as passenger3,9864.44.72,8194.14.9+1,167
Train3,8884.34.03,3965.04.9+492
Bus9,91610.93.37,95511.64.3+1,961
Ferry730.10.0370.10.0+36
Tram60.00.0240.00.0-18
Truck1590.20.61550.20.7+4
Motorbike/Motor scooter3470.40.33820.60.5-35
Bicycle1,7201.90.71,8332.71.0-113
Taxi/Other8070.90.42240.30.2+583
Other - multiple methods1,1861.31.51,1611.72.0+25
Walked only5,5536.12.25,0037.32.8+550
Worked at home8,6599.57.52,8194.14.3+5,840
Did not go to work9,83510.811.76,2369.110.1+3,599
Not stated3430.40.56130.91.1-270
Total 91,378100.0100.068,554100.0100.0+22,824

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 13,810 resident workers who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in Perth Inner City Region, compared with 49,392 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 Perth Inner City Region shows that 15.1% used public transport, while 54.1% used a private vehicle, compared with 7.4% and 68.2% respectively in Western Australia.

The major differences between the method of travel to work of the resident workers in Perth Inner City Region and the Western Australia workforce were:

  • A smaller percentage of resident workers who travelled by car, as driver (49.1% compared to 62.6%)
  • A larger percentage of resident workers who travelled by bus (10.9% compared to 3.3%)
  • A larger percentage of resident workers who walked only (6.1% compared to 2.2%)
  • A larger percentage of resident workers who worked at home (9.5% compared to 7.5%)

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the method of travel to work of the resident workers in Perth Inner City Region between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • Car, as driver (+9,003 resident workers)
  • Worked at home (+5,840 resident workers)
  • Did not go to work (+3,599 resident workers)
  • Bus (+1,961 resident workers)

Perth Inner City Region

economic profile