8772.0 - Private Sector Construction Industry, Australia, 1996-97  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/01/1999   
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Construction industry profit $5.5 billion in 1996-97


The private sector construction industry earned almost $5.5 billion profit in 1996/97 according to final estimates published today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This is the first detailed survey of the construction industry since 1990, and includes estimates for the many sole operators and small businesses in the industry.

Out of the estimated 194,300 businesses in the construction industry over 80% were engaged in the Construction Trade Services (e.g. bricklayers, plumbers, etc), with the remainder of businesses engaged in General Construction (e.g. residential and non-residential builders).

Almost three-quarters of the 484,100 peopled employed in the industry worked in the Construction Trade Services.

The Construction Trade Services side of the industry contributed 72% of the industries total pre-tax operating profit of $5.5 billion. The profit margins for Construction Trade Services and General Construction were 16% and 5% respectively, while the overall profit margin for the construction industry was 10%.

The publication also reports that 35% of businesses in the construction industry use computers in their business operations, with larger businesses far more likely to use computers than smaller businesses.

Other information covered by the publication Private Sector Construction Industry, Australia includes strategies used in coping with downturns in the industry, waste management practices, as well as income, expenditure and profitability details.

These final estimates have been compiled from employing and non-employing businesses in the construction industry, due to the important role that sole operators play in this industry, while the preliminary figures released last September were based on estimates for employing businesses only.

Further details are available in Private Sector Construction Industry, Australia (cat. no. 8772.0) available from ABS bookshops. A summary of main findings can be found on this site.