Home to work commuting

Contact info

Labour Market, Social Statistics
Pernille Stender
+45 24 92 12 33

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Home to work commuting 2024

Commuting 2016

The statistics measure commuting between place of residence and workplace within Denmark, including the distances between commuters’ homes and workplaces. Commuting statistics viewed as commuting between municipalities can be compiled from 1980 onwards. The distance between home and workplace was first calculated in 2006. The statistics are comparable in its current form from 2008 onwards.

Statistical presentation

The statistics provide an annual, individual-based account of employed persons’ commuting between place of residence and workplace on the last working day of November. The distance between commuters’ home and workplace is also calculated in kilometres (km). The commuting statistics are published the StatBank, where the data can be distributed on place of residence, workplace, commuting distance, gender, industry (DB07), and socio-economic status.

Statistical processing

The commuting statistic is compiled on the register-based labour force statistic (RAS), which is based on the Labour Market Account (LMA) - a longitudinal register. A comprehensive data validation is done in the production of AMR. RAS is compiled taking a snapshot (on the populations primary attachment to the labour market) on the last working day in November based on LMA. Based on the information about the address of residence and workplace for employed persons the commuting distance is calculated.

Relevance

The statistic is relevant for users interested in mobility on the labour market and the data foundation makes it possible to connect detailed information for analysis.

Accuracy and reliability

The commuting statistics are based on the Register-Based Labour Force Statistics (RAS), which are used to describe the population’s attachment to the labour market. RAS is compiled from a wide range of data sources that are integrated, error-checked, and harmonised within the labour market accounts. RAS is produced as a snapshot at the end of November based LMA. Therefore, RAS does not carry the same level of uncertainty as statistics based on sample surveys.

It is also important to be aware that the calculated commuting distance reflects an ideal situation where every person is believed to travel from residence to workplace by the shortest route and by car.

Timeliness and punctuality

Commuting statistics for commuting between municipalities are published approximately 11 months after the reference date. Commuting distances are published approximately 17 months after the reference date.

Comparability

The statistics can be compiled from 1980 and are comparable from 2008 onwards. Historically, there have been various data breaks in the RAS statistics, which are described in the statistical documentation for RAS.

Accessibility and clarity

In the StatBank the statistics is published can be found under the subject Home to work commuting. For further information, go to the subject page.