Off to Work - Commuting in Australia

Abstract

Over nine million Australians travel to work each week, commuting by car, bus, train, tram, bicycle, ferry or foot. These days, more than ever before, employees are commuting for longer, in traffic that is more congested, to reach workplaces that are further away. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey conducted by The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research in 2002, this paper explores patterns of commuting among adult Australians in paid work. The sample consists of 5898 people aged 18 to 64 years who participate in some kind of paid work.