How workable is a 20-minute city in Australia? Re-examining the challenge of change in spatial labour and job relations

Tiebei Li, Anthony Kent, Jago Dodson, Yina Sima

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Most x-minute city studies focus on liveability and neighborhood accessibility to local services, but rarely include primary employment. This paper complements these studies by examining the urban employment structure and transport dynamics of an Australian city under the 20-minute city concept framework. To do this, we develop a comprehensive method to model residents’ job access time using census-based journey to work (JTW) data and detailed household activity and travel survey. Analysing JTW time stepping down to diverse industry and employment categories and transport modes allows new insight into the disparity in residents’ job and housing locations and transport choices at local scales. By evaluating the distribution of working residents, types of employment, and transport performance, this paper examines possible policy responses and challenges of change in expanding the 20-minute planning target for employment. The analysis suggests that housing infill development could support reduced JTW time for residents experiencing longer time for work travels. However, this would require active planning of both land-use mix and dwelling design to meet prevalent household expectations about dwelling size and quality.

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages26
JournalUrban Geography
DOIs
Publication statusPublished Online - 23 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • housing infill development
  • job decentralisation
  • journey to work
  • labour sub-market
  • X-minute city

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • Urban Studies

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'How workable is a 20-minute city in Australia? Re-examining the challenge of change in spatial labour and job relations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this