Method of travel to work (MTWP)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2021

Definition

This variable records up to three methods, or means, of travel to work on the day of the Census, for each person aged 15 years and over who was employed during the week before the Census. The question allows for multiple responses across all categories except walked only, worked at home, and did not go to work.

Scope

Persons aged 15 years and over employed during the week before the Census

Categories

1 Public Transport   
 01 Train  
  001Train
  012Train, bus
  013Train, ferry
  014Train, tram/light rail
  015Train, taxi/ride-share service
  016Train, car as driver
  017Train, car as passenger
  018Train, truck
  019Train, motorbike/scooter
  020Train, bicycle
  021Train, other
  067Train, bus, ferry
  068Train, bus, tram/light rail
  069Train, bus, taxi/ride-share service
  070Train, bus, car as driver
  071Train, bus, car as passenger
  072Train, bus, truck
  073Train, bus, motorbike/scooter
  074Train, bus, bicycle
  075Train, bus, other
  076Train, ferry, tram/light rail
  077Train, ferry, taxi/ride-share service
  078Train, ferry, car as driver
  079Train, ferry, car as passenger
  080Train, ferry, truck
  081Train, ferry, motorbike/scooter
  082Train, ferry, bicycle
  083Train, ferry, other
  084Train, tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service
  085Train, tram/light rail, car as driver
  086Train, tram/light rail, car as passenger
  087Train, tram/light rail, truck
  088Train, tram/light rail, motorbike/scooter
  089Train, tram/light rail, bicycle
  090Train, tram/light rail, other
  091Train, taxi/ride-share service, car as driver
  092Train, taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger
  093Train, taxi/ride-share service, truck
  094Train, taxi/ride-share service, motorbike/scooter
  095Train, taxi/ride-share service, bicycle
  096Train, taxi/ride-share service, other
  097Train, car as driver, car as passenger
  098Train, car as driver, truck
  099Train, car as driver, motorbike/scooter
  100Train, car as driver, bicycle
  101Train, car as driver, other
  102Train, car as passenger, truck
  103Train, car as passenger, motorbike/scooter
  104Train, car as passenger, bicycle
  105Train, car as passenger, other
  106Train, truck, motorbike/scooter
  107Train, truck, bicycle
  108Train, truck, other
  109Train, motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  110Train, motorbike/scooter, other
  111Train, bicycle, other
 02 Bus  
  002Bus
  022Bus, ferry
  023Bus, tram/light rail
  024Bus, taxi/ride-share service
  025Bus, car as driver
  026Bus, car as passenger
  027Bus, truck
  028Bus, motorbike/scooter
  029Bus, bicycle
  030Bus, other
  112Bus, ferry, tram/light rail
  113Bus, ferry, taxi/ride-share service
  114Bus, ferry, car as driver
  115Bus, ferry, car as passenger
  116Bus, ferry, truck
  117Bus, ferry, motorbike/scooter
  118Bus, ferry, bicycle
  119Bus, ferry, other
  120Bus, tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service
  121Bus, tram/light rail, car as driver
  122Bus, tram/light rail, car as passenger
  123Bus, tram/light rail, truck
  124Bus, tram/light rail, motorbike/scooter
  125Bus, tram/light rail, bicycle
  126Bus, tram/light rail, other
  127Bus, taxi/ride-share service, car as driver
  128Bus, taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger
  129Bus, taxi/ride-share service, truck
  130Bus, taxi/ride-share service, motorbike/scooter
  131Bus, taxi/ride-share service, bicycle
  132Bus, taxi/ride-share service, other
  133Bus, car as driver, car as passenger
  134Bus, car as driver, truck
  135Bus, car as driver, motorbike/scooter
  136Bus, car as driver, bicycle
  137Bus, car as driver, other
  138Bus, car as passenger, truck
  139Bus, car as passenger, motorbike/scooter
  140Bus, car as passenger, bicycle
  141Bus, car as passenger, other
  142Bus, truck, motorbike/scooter
  143Bus, truck, bicycle
  144Bus, truck, other
  145Bus, motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  146Bus, motorbike/scooter, other
  147Bus, bicycle, other
 03 Ferry  
  003Ferry
  031Ferry, tram/light rail
  032Ferry, taxi/ride-share service
  033Ferry, car as driver
  034Ferry, car as passenger
  035Ferry, truck
  036Ferry, motorbike/scooter
  037Ferry, bicycle
  038Ferry, other
  148Ferry, tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service
  149Ferry, tram/light rail, car as driver
  150Ferry, tram/light rail, car as passenger
  151Ferry, tram/light rail, truck
  152Ferry, tram/light rail, motorbike/scooter
  153Ferry, tram/light rail, bicycle
  154Ferry, tram/light rail, other
  155Ferry, taxi/ride-share service, car as driver
  156Ferry, taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger
  157Ferry, taxi/ride-share service, truck
  158Ferry, taxi/ride-share service, motorbike/scooter
  159Ferry, taxi/ride-share service, bicycle
  160Ferry, taxi/ride-share service, other
  161Ferry, car as driver, car as passenger
  162Ferry, car as driver, truck
  163Ferry, car as driver, motorbike/scooter
  164Ferry, car as driver, bicycle
  165Ferry, car as driver, other
  166Ferry, car as passenger, truck
  167Ferry, car as passenger, motorbike/scooter
  168Ferry, car as passenger, bicycle
  169Ferry, car as passenger, other
  170Ferry, truck, motorbike/scooter
  171Ferry, truck, bicycle
  172Ferry, truck, other
  173Ferry, motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  174Ferry, motorbike/scooter, other
  175Ferry, bicycle, other
 04 Tram/light rail  
  004Tram/light rail
  039Tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service
  040Tram/light rail, car as driver
  041Tram/light rail, car as passenger
  042Tram/light rail, truck
  043Tram/light rail, motorbike/scooter
  044Tram/light rail, bicycle
  045Tram/light rail, other
  176Tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service, car as driver
  177Tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger
  178Tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service, truck
  179Tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service, motorbike/scooter
  180Tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service, bicycle
  181Tram/light rail, taxi/ride-share service, other
  182Tram/light rail, car as driver, car as passenger
  183Tram/light rail, car as driver, truck
  184Tram/light rail, car as driver, motorbike/scooter
  185Tram/light rail, car as driver, bicycle
  186Tram/light rail, car as driver, other
  187Tram/light rail, car as passenger, truck
  188Tram/light rail, car as passenger, motorbike/scooter
  189Tram/light rail, car as passenger, bicycle
  190Tram/light rail, car as passenger, other
  191Tram/light rail, truck, motorbike/scooter
  192Tram/light rail, truck, bicycle
  193Tram/light rail, truck, other
  194Tram/light rail, motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  195Tram/light rail, motorbike/scooter, other
  196Tram/light rail, bicycle, other
 05 Taxi/ride-share service  
  005Taxi/ride-share service
  046Taxi/ride-share service, car as driver
  047Taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger
  048Taxi/ride-share service, truck
  049Taxi/ride-share service, motorbike/scooter
  050Taxi/ride-share service, bicycle
  051Taxi/ride-share service, other
  197Taxi/ride-share service, car as driver, car as passenger
  198Taxi/ride-share service, car as driver, truck
  199Taxi/ride-share service, car as driver, motorbike/scooter
  200Taxi/ride-share service, car as driver, bicycle
  201Taxi/ride-share service, car as driver, other
  202Taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger, truck
  203Taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger, motorbike/scooter
  204Taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger, bicycle
  205Taxi/ride-share service, car as passenger, other
  206Taxi/ride-share service, truck, motorbike/scooter
  207Taxi/ride-share service, truck, bicycle
  208Taxi/ride-share service, truck, other
  209Taxi/ride-share service, motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  210Taxi/ride-share service, motorbike/scooter, other
  211Taxi/ride-share service, bicycle, other
2 Vehicle   
 06 Car, as driver  
  006Car, as driver
  052Car as driver, car as passenger
  053Car as driver, truck
  054Car as driver, motorbike/scooter
  055Car as driver, bicycle
  056Car as driver, other
  212Car as driver, car as passenger, truck
  213Car as driver, car as passenger, motorbike/scooter
  214Car as driver, car as passenger, bicycle
  215Car as driver, car as passenger, other
  216Car as driver, truck, motorbike/scooter
  217Car as driver, truck, bicycle
  218Car as driver, truck, other
  219Car as driver, motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  220Car as driver, motorbike/scooter, other
  221Car as driver, bicycle, other
 07 Car, as passenger  
  007Car, as passenger
  057Car as passenger, truck
  058Car as passenger, motorbike/scooter
  059Car as passenger, bicycle
  060Car as passenger, other
  222Car as passenger, truck, motorbike/scooter
  223Car as passenger, truck, bicycle
  224Car as passenger, truck, other
  225Car as passenger, motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  226Car as passenger, motorbike/scooter, other
  227Car as passenger, bicycle, other
 08 Truck  
  008Truck
  061Truck, motorbike/scooter
  062Truck, bicycle
  063Truck, other
  228Truck, motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  229Truck, motorbike/scooter, other
  230Truck, bicycle, other
 09 Motorbike/scooter  
  009Motorbike/scooter
  064Motorbike/scooter, bicycle
  065Motorbike/scooter, other
  231Motorbike/scooter, bicycle, other
3 Active Transport   
 10 Bicycle  
  010Bicycle
  066Bicycle, other
 11 Walked only  
  232Walked only
4 Other Mode   
 12 Other Mode  
  011Other
5 Worked at home or Did not go to work   
 13 Worked at home  
  233Worked at home
 14 Did not go to work  
  234Did not go to work
6 Mode not stated   
 15 Not stated  
  &&&Not stated
@ Not applicable   
 @@ Not applicable  
  @@@Not applicable
V Overseas visitor   
 VV Overseas visitor  
  VVVOverseas visitor

Number of categories: 237

Not applicable (@@@) category comprises:

  • Unemployed persons looking for either part-time or full-time work
  • Persons not in the labour force
  • Persons with Labour force status (LFSP) not stated
  • Persons aged under 15 years

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.

Question(s) from the Census form

How did the person get to work on Tuesday 10 August 2021?

How did the person get to work on Tuesday 10 August 2021?
How did Person 1 get to work on Tuesday 10 August 2021? If the person used more than one method of travel to work, select all methods used. More information How person got to work Train Bus Ferry Tram (including light rail) Taxi or ride-share service Car – as a driver Car – as a passenger Truck Motorbike or motor scooter Bicycle Walked only Other Worked at home Did not go to work

Example

Method of travel to work example - car as a driver response selected

Example

How did Person 1 get to work on Tuesday 10 August 2021? If the person used more than one method of travel to work, select all methods used. More information How person got to work Train Bus Ferry Tram (including light rail) Taxi or ride-share service Car – as a driver (selected response) Car – as a passenger Truck Motorbike or motor scooter Bicycle Walked only Other Worked at home Did not go to work

More Information

Additional information relating to the question on: How did the person get to work on Tuesday 10 August 2021?

More Information

How did Person 1 get to work on Tuesday 10 August 2021? If the person used more than one method of travel to work, select all methods used. More information Select all methods of travel used by the person to get to work on Tuesday 10 August 2021. For example, if the person drove a car to a train station and then took a train to work, select both 'Car – as a driver' and 'Train' boxes. If the person walked all the way to work, select 'Walked only'. Do not include methods of travel for the journey home.

How this variable is created

The responses to this question are captured automatically from mark box responses on the Census form. Respondents were able to select more than one response with up to three methods recorded. Where more than three methods were used, responses were accepted in the order they appeared on the form and the extra responses were rejected.

In cases where the combination of responses contained 'Did not go to work', 'Worked at home' or 'Walked only', then these unique responses override any others. If more than one of these unique responses is in the same combination, then a single response is selected in the order they appear. 

History and changes

The question relating to Method of travel to work (MTWP) was first asked in the 1976 Census. Similar questions have been asked in every Census since then.

In 2021 changes were made to the Census question for two categories:

  • 'Taxi' has been changed to 'Taxi/ride-share service'
  • 'Tram' has been changed to 'Tram/light rail'

Data use considerations

This variable is used with Place of usual residence (PURP) and Place of work (POWP) address to construct 'journey to work' data for transport planning.

Unlike most Census variables, the non-response rate for Method of travel to work (MTWP) is not affected by persons who did not return a Census form because this variable is only applicable to persons with a labour force status of 'employed'. Persons who do not respond or have a labour force status of 'not stated' are not applicable to Method of travel to work.

The non-response rate for Method of travel to work (MTWP) was 0.5% in 2021. This is a decrease from 1.0% in 2016.

Usual method of travel to work

When using this data with 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 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 method of travel to work would not reflect their usual travel pattern.
  • If a person who was unemployed but gained employment in the week before Census, their method of travel to work 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 Method of travel to work 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-19 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 four 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 four weeks prior to the current lockdown period, but haven't been able to work in the last week due to COVID-19 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). 

Related variables and glossary terms

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