Average England and Wales commute lengthened over last decade

The latest census data has revealed that the average distance travelled by commuters to work has increased in all English regions and Wales. The Office of National Statistics analysis of the 2011 Census shows that while those commuting regularly are averaging greater mileage, five per cent fewer workers made regular journeys to work than in 2001. Tyre dealers and garages in Wales and the east of England should be aware that commuters in these regions are currently travelling the furthest to work, therefore providing greater opportunities for business. With the number of regular commuters reducing, retailers could benefit from retaining the business of those that continue to use private transport to get to work.

Commuters resident in the Midlands and the South West had the largest increase in average distance travelled to work at 2.2km further than in 2001. Residents in the East of England travelled the furthest to work on average, at 17.3km. Commuters in only four regions travelled, on average, further than 16km to work in 2011. These were the East of England, Wales, South East and North East.

The 2011 census also shows that the number of regular commuters is in decline. 81 per cent of workers of workers made a regular commute in 2011, versus 86 per cent ten years ago. The ONS explains that the number of people who worked from home increased by a quarter and the number of people who either had no fixed place of work, worked outside the UK or on offshore installations more than doubled, to 2.2 million, over the decade. 95 per cent of these 2.2 million had no fixed place of work.

The percentage of working residents with no fixed workplace or working outside the UK in 2011 shows that this change has occurred most markedly in the south of the country. The local authorities with the highest percentage of residents in this category in 2011 were Newham (16.3 per cent), Waltham Forest (15.3) and Brent (14.6), all of which are in London. The local authorities with the lowest shares were Copeland (5.4 per cent), Cambridge (5.8) and Carlisle (6.0).