Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Main mode of commuting

Definition

Main mode of commuting refers to the main mode of transportation a person uses to travel to their place of work.

Statistical unit(s)

• Employed person

Classification(s)

• Mode of commuting

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample); 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample); 2006, 2001 and 1996 (20% sample).

Reported for

Population aged 15 years and over, in private households, with a job or absent from their job or business during the week of Sunday, May 2 to Saturday, May 8, 2021, and who reported having a usual place of work or no fixed workplace address.

Previously, in other census cycles, early enumeration was conducted in remote, isolated parts of the provinces and territories in the months leading up to the May enumeration. Because of COVID-19, there was no early enumeration for the 2021 Census. Collection procedures—especially in collective dwellings and remote, northern, First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities—were redesigned to ensure the census was conducted in the best possible way, using a safe and secure approach.

Question number(s)

Direct variable: Question 52b)

Responses

Car, truck or van — as a driver

Car, truck or van — as a passenger

Bus

Subway or elevated rail

Light rail, streetcar or commuter train

Passenger ferry

Walked to work

Bicycle

Motorcycle, scooter or moped

Other method

Remarks

Persons who used more than one mode of commuting were asked to identify the single mode they used for most of the travel distance. As a result, the question provides data on the main mode of commuting. The question does not measure the seasonal variation in mode of commuting or trips made for purposes other than the commute to work.

Note(s)

Related 2021 data products

• Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001)
• Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population (98-404-X2021001)
• Census Program Data Viewer (CPDV) (98-507-X2021001)
• Commuting destination by main mode of commuting, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0462-01)
• Commuting flow from geography of residence to geography of work by main mode of commuting, commuting duration and gender: Census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations (98-10-0460-01)
• Main mode of commuting by commuting duration, distance (straight-line) from home to work and time leaving for work: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0461-01)
• Main mode of commuting by commuting duration, time leaving for work, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0458-01)
• Main mode of commuting by commuting duration, time leaving for work, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0457-01)
• Main mode of commuting by commuting duration, time leaving for work, industry sectors, occupation broad category and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0465-01)
• Main mode of commuting by employment income groups, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0463-01)
• Main mode of commuting by immigrant status and period of immigration, visible minority, age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts (98-10-0468-01)
• Main mode of commuting by industry sectors, occupation broad category and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0464-01)