Australia recorded 2,543,995 actively trading businesses in 2021 to 22. Small businesses account for 97.2% of all businesses, and medium and large firms make up just 2.8% while employing 43.6% of the workforce. Construction holds the most businesses at 246,679, shaping where activity is concentrated across the economy.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021-22, there were 2,543,995 actively trading businesses in Australia
- Small businesses (0-19 employees) accounted for 97.2% of all Australian businesses in 2021
- Medium and large businesses (20+ employees) made up 2.8% of businesses but employed 43.6% of the workforce in 2021
- In June 2022, total employment in Australian businesses was 14.0 million persons
- Total filled jobs in the private sector reached 11.7 million in June 2022
- Public sector filled jobs were 2.3 million in June 2022
- In 2021-22, total industry turnover was $3,479 billion
- Construction industry turnover reached $367 billion in 2021-22
- Mining turnover was $348 billion in 2021-22
- Business R&D expenditure was $15.8 billion in 2020-21
- Manufacturing sector spent $3.2 billion on R&D in 2020-21
- Professional services R&D $2.9 billion in 2020-21
- Total exports of goods and services were $579 billion in 2022-23
- Iron ore exports valued at $136 billion in 2022-23
- Coal exports reached $65 billion in 2022-23
Australia had 2.54 million actively trading businesses in 2021 to 22, mostly small enterprises driving most jobs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Business Demographics30 stats
01
In 2021-22, there were 2,543,995 actively trading businesses in Australia
02
Small businesses (0-19 employees) accounted for 97.2% of all Australian businesses in 2021
03
Medium and large businesses (20+ employees) made up 2.8% of businesses but employed 43.6% of the workforce in 2021
04
The Construction industry had the highest number of businesses at 246,679 in 2021
05
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services was the second largest sector with 231,678 businesses in 2021
06
New South Wales had 786,285 businesses, the highest of any state in 2021
07
Victoria followed with 664,072 businesses in 2021
08
Queensland had 511,865 businesses in 2021
09
Businesses with non-employing status numbered 1,425,215 or 56.0% of total in 2021
10
62,392 business entries occurred in 2021-22, representing a 2.5% increase
11
55,950 business exits in 2021-22, up 14.1% from previous year
12
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services saw 12,456 new entries in 2021-22
13
As of June 2023: June 2026, there were 99.8% of businesses classified as small (less than 20 employees)
14
Sole traders represent 58% of all small businesses in Australia as of 2023
15
Partnerships make up 7% of small businesses in 2023
16
Proprietary limited companies account for 28% of small businesses in 2023
17
Public companies represent less than 1% of small businesses in 2023
18
In 2022, Australia had approximately 2.6 million small businesses employing 44% of the private workforce
19
The number of small businesses grew by 3.6% from 2021 to 2022
20
Micro businesses (1-4 employees) comprise 82% of small businesses in 2023
21
Small businesses in NSW numbered over 900,000 in 2023
22
Victoria had around 800,000 small businesses in 2023
23
35.7% of Australian businesses were established before 2000 as of 2021
24
Businesses aged 0-1 year made up 5.9% in 2021
25
20-39% of businesses are in Construction across states in 2021
26
Health Care and Social Assistance had 8.4% share of businesses in 2021
27
Retail Trade sector had 9.1% of total businesses in 2021
28
1.1 million businesses had annual turnover under $2 million in 2018-19
29
Businesses with turnover $2m-$10m numbered 227,000 in 2018-19
30
Total tax agents registered were 29,022 in 2022
Interpretation
Business Demographics Interpretation
The Australian economy is a classic case of "the many doing the little and the few doing the lot," where a vast sea of small businesses forms the vibrant coastline, but the real employment tides are pulled by a handful of larger vessels, all while the shoreline itself is constantly being reshaped by new arrivals and departures.
02 · Category
Employment Statistics24 stats
01
In June 2022, total employment in Australian businesses was 14.0 million persons
02
Total filled jobs in the private sector reached 11.7 million in June 2022
03
Public sector filled jobs were 2.3 million in June 2022
04
Employment in small businesses (under 20 employees) was 4.3 million in 2021-22
05
Large businesses (200+ employees) employed 3.9 million people or 28% of total in 2021
06
Average employment per business was 5.5 persons in 2021
07
Construction industry employed 1,263,000 people in businesses in 2021
08
Health Care and Social Assistance employed 1,080,400 in 2021
09
Retail Trade had 1,059,300 employed in 2021
10
Small businesses employed 47% of the total workforce in 2022
11
SMEs contributed 68% of Australia's private sector employment in 2021-22
12
Unemployment rate for business employees was 4.2% in 2023
13
Part-time employment in businesses grew by 2.5% year-on-year in 2022
14
Female employment in small businesses was 45% in 2022
15
Youth (15-24) employment in SMEs was 1.2 million in 2022
16
Manufacturing sector employment declined to 840,000 in 2022
17
Professional services employed 1.4 million in 2022
18
Hospitality employment reached 900,000 post-COVID in 2023
19
Mining employment was 280,000 in 2022
20
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing employed 320,000 in 2022
21
Total jobs in NSW businesses: 3.8 million in 2022
22
VIC employment in businesses: 3.2 million in 2022
23
Average weekly hours worked per job: 32.4 in June 2022
24
Wage growth in businesses was 3.8% annually in 2022
Interpretation
Employment Statistics Interpretation
While Australia's economic engine appears robust with 14 million employed, the reality is a delicately balanced ecosystem where small businesses are the surprisingly mighty heart, employing nearly half the workforce, yet the gears are grinding with modest wage growth and a manufacturing sector quietly shrinking.
03 · Category
Financial Metrics19 stats
01
In 2021-22, total industry turnover was $3,479 billion
02
Construction industry turnover reached $367 billion in 2021-22
03
Mining turnover was $348 billion in 2021-22
04
Retail Trade turnover $547 billion in 2021-22
05
Professional services turnover $252 billion in 2021-22
06
Total industry value added was $1,130 billion in 2021-22
07
Industry gross operating profits totaled $396 billion in 2021-22
08
EBITDA for Australian industries was $532 billion in 2021-22
09
SMEs generated $418 billion in wages and salaries in 2021-22
10
Business investment in plant and equipment was $138 billion in 2022-23
11
Corporate tax revenue from businesses was $95 billion in 2022-23
12
Average annual turnover per business was $1.4 million in 2019-20
13
Construction profits rose 15% to $45 billion in 2021-22
14
Mining profits surged 38% to $133 billion in 2021-22
15
Retail profits increased 24% to $28 billion in 2021-22
16
Total business bankruptcies numbered 5,251 in 2022-23
17
External administrations affected 10,984 businesses in 2022-23
18
Average business loan size was $450,000in 2023
19
Business lending growth was 5.2% in 2023
Interpretation
Financial Metrics Interpretation
While Australia’s corporate engine roared with impressive turnover and surging mining profits, the persistent growl of over 10,000 external administrations reminds us that beneath the headline billions, the business landscape remains a high-stakes tightrope walk.
More related reading
04 · Category
Innovation and Investment20 stats
01
Business R&D expenditure was $15.8 billion in 2020-21
02
Manufacturing sector spent $3.2 billion on R&D in 2020-21
03
Professional services R&D $2.9 billion in 2020-21
04
38% of businesses innovated in 2021-22
05
New-to-market innovations by 12% of businesses in 2021-22
06
Businesses with ongoing R&D activities: 8,800 or 6.7% in 2020-21
07
Venture capital investment totaled $4.2 billion in 2022-23
08
Early-stage VC deals numbered 200 in 2022-23
09
Fintech startups raised $1.1 billion in 2023
10
CleanTech investment $1.5 billion in 2022
11
AI patents filed by Australian businesses: 1,200 in 2022
12
Total business mergers and acquisitions value $50 billion in 2023
13
Private equity deals 150 valued at $15 billion in 2023
14
Government grants for business innovation $2.5 billion in 2022-23
15
Export Market Development Grants claimed $170 million in 2022-23
16
R&D Tax Incentive claims totaled $3.1 billion in 2022-23
17
65% of businesses adopted cloud computing in 2022
18
Cybersecurity investment by businesses $5 billion in 2023
19
Blockchain adoption in businesses 15% in 2023
20
Green investment in businesses $10 billion in 2022-23
Interpretation
Innovation and Investment Interpretation
While Australia's businesses are clearly flexing their financial muscles with billions poured into R&D, venture capital, and green tech, the fact that only 12% managed to produce something truly new-to-market suggests we might be better at spending money on the future than actually inventing it.
05 · Category
Trade and Exports20 stats
01
Total exports of goods and services were $579 billion in 2022-23
02
Iron ore exports valued at $136 billion in 2022-23
03
Coal exports reached $65 billion in 2022-23
04
Natural gas exports were $70 billion in 2022-23
05
Gold exports totaled $19 billion in 2022-23
06
China was Australia's largest export market at 29% share in 2022-23
07
Japan accounted for 12% of exports in 2022-23
08
South Korea 6% of exports in 2022-23
09
Imports totaled $464 billion in 2022-23
10
Trade surplus was $115 billion in 2022-23
11
Services exports grew 20% to $104 billion in 2022-23
12
Education-related services exports $21 billion in 2022-23
13
Personal travel services $40 billion in 2022-23
14
SMEs contributed 35% to merchandise exports in 2021-22
15
Food and agriculture exports $67 billion in 2022-23
16
Beef exports $13 billion in 2022-23
17
Wine exports $2.5 billion in 2022-23
18
Total FDI inward stock $1,000 billion in 2022
19
US largest source of FDI at 23% in 2022
20
UK FDI 10% share in 2022
Interpretation
Trade and Exports Interpretation
Australia’s economic engine runs on iron, coal, and gas, but is kept in balance by its students, tourists, and a healthy appetite for our beef and wine.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
David Kowalski. (2026, February 13). Australian Business Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australian-business-statistics
MLA
David Kowalski. "Australian Business Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/australian-business-statistics.
Chicago
David Kowalski. 2026. "Australian Business Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australian-business-statistics.
Sources & references
19 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level