City of Melbourne

Resident workers - Method of travel to work - All industries

Within the City of Melbourne, there is a higher proportion of resident All industries workers using public transport to get to work than the Victoria workforce.

Maximising access to employment is a key objective in any economic development strategy. Understanding the modes of transport the City of Melbourne'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:
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Resident workers method of travel to work
City of Melbourne20212016Change
Main method of travelNumber%. Victoria%Number%. Victoria%2016 - 2021
Car, as driver13,23714.750.313,47620.761.8-239
Car, as passenger1,1321.33.51,1661.84.0-34
Train6,2977.02.97,50011.59.2-1,203
Bus9671.10.81,1351.71.3-168
Ferry150.00.0100.00.0+5
Tram8,2729.20.711,69818.01.9-3,426
Truck540.10.5380.10.6+16
Motorbike/Motor scooter6020.70.23130.50.4+289
Bicycle2,0392.30.72,5173.91.2-478
Taxi/Other3740.40.22530.40.2+121
Other - multiple methods4620.50.41,1231.71.2-661
Walked only10,93512.12.317,07626.23.2-6,141
Worked at home34,84338.625.72,6484.14.6+32,195
Did not go to work10,76411.911.25,6608.79.3+5,104
Not stated3550.40.55370.81.0-182
Total 90,348100.0100.065,150100.0100.0+25,198

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 15,536 resident workers who caught public transport to work (train, bus, tram or ferry) in the City of Melbourne, compared with 15,025 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 City of Melbourne shows that 17.2% used public transport, while 16.6% used a private vehicle, compared with 4.4% and 54.5% respectively in Victoria.

The major differences between the method of travel to work of the resident workers in the City of Melbourne and the Victoria workforce were:

  • A smaller percentage of resident workers who travelled by car, as driver (14.7% compared to 50.3%)
  • A larger percentage of resident workers who worked at home (38.6% compared to 25.7%)
  • A larger percentage of resident workers who walked only (12.1% compared to 2.3%)
  • A larger percentage of resident workers who travelled by tram (9.2% compared to 0.7%)

Emerging groups

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

  • Worked at home (+32,195 resident workers)
  • Walked only (-6,141 resident workers)
  • Did not go to work (+5,104 resident workers)
  • Tram (-3,426 resident workers)

City of Melbourne

economic profile