Method of travel to work (15 travel modes) (MTW15P)

These variables record the method of travel to work in 15 travel modes on Census day 10 August 2021. Data is derived from the Method of travel to work MTWP variable.

See also Method of travel to work (6 travel modes) (MTW06P).

Persons aged 15 years or over who stated their labour force status as ‘employed’

These variables are derived from the Census variable MTWP which records the method used to travel to work on the day of the Census. The MTWP classification has been sourced from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Research Economics.

The table in MTW06P shows how categories are aggregated to create Method of travel to work (15 travel modes).

This variable was first introduced in 2016.

Minor updates to the category labels have been made to align with MTWP.

Mode 15 reflects the ‘main mode’ used in that journey from home to workplace. Where multiple methods of work are used, a priority hierarchy is used to make assumptions for the ‘main mode’. The priority hierarchy for mode 15 is:

• Train
• Bus
• Ferry
• Tram/Light rail
• Taxi or ride-share service
• Vehicle driver
• Vehicle passenger
• Truck
• Motorbike or motor scooter
• Bicycle
• Other mode (not elsewhere specified)
• Walked only

For example, if a person selected, ‘Train’ and ‘Bus’, their mode of transport would be coded to ‘1 Train’ for Mode of travel to work (15 modes), even if ‘bus’ made the majority of the trip, due to the higher ranking of ‘train’ in the priority list.

Usual method of travel to work

When using this data with Place of Work (POWP) data, users should be aware that POWP refers to the main job last week, while MTWP refers to Census day. This may explain why, for a small proportion of records, MTWP data may appear inconsistent with POWP or Place of usual residence (PURP) information. 

For example, a person may have been working in the centre of Perth on 10 August 2021 and have travelled there by train, however in the week before the Census, they may have been working in an outer suburb of Perth and travelled there by car. In this case, the person would have their MTWP as train on the Census form, whilst their usual travel pattern would be by car.

Other scenario examples:

• If a person who had a job became unemployed, retired or on leave on 10 August 2021, their MTWP would not reflect their usual travel pattern
• If a person who was unemployed but gained employment in the week before Census, their MTWP would not be captured. The sequencing of questions is based on labour force status in the week before Census.
• If a person rides a bicycle a couple days per week, but ‘usually’ catches the bus, the MTWP focuses on the activity specific to Census day, to capture the minor mode of travel i.e. bicycle.

Walked only

If a person walked some of the way to work and used other methods, it is not included as an additional method. For example, if they walked then caught the bus, then ‘Bus’ only should be selected. Only if the person walked all the way to work, should ‘Walked only’ be selected.

Lockdown

A number of regions across the country were in various stages of lockdown on Census day, and the week preceding it, resulting in a greater number of people working from their homes.  Not only may this impact their responses for their place of work, but also, their travel to work.  Guidance on how to correctly respond was provided at the time on the Census website, as follows:

Answering questions about your workplace and job role

If you are currently working from home due to COVID restrictions, but usually attend a workplace, please write the employer's usual workplace address.

Answering questions about whether you had a job

If you were employed in the 4 weeks prior to the current lockdown period, but haven't been able to work in the last week due to lockdown or requirement to self-isolate, please select 'Yes, but absent on holidays, on paid leave, on strike or temporarily stood down'.

Answering questions about your workplace and job role

If you were employed in the 4 weeks prior to the current lockdown period, but haven't been able to work in the last week due to COVID restrictions or requirement to self-isolate, please answer all questions reflecting your usual occupation. This includes your role (such as occupation and tasks performed) and  information about your employer (such as industry and number of employees). 

• Method of travel to work (MTWP)
• Method of travel to work (6 modes) (MTW06P)
• Place of work (POWP)
• Distance to work (ranges) (DTWP)

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