8565.0 - Hire Industries, Australia, Preliminary, 1999-2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/05/2001   
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MEDIA RELEASE

May 17, 2001
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
51/2001

Hire industry businesses earn $2.5 billion

The plant and goods hiring industries recorded an operating profit before tax of $244 million from earnings of $2,549 million during 1999-2000 according to a report on the industry released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The hiring industry income mainly comprised $2,208 million received by employing businesses in the plant hiring and leasing industry and included the hiring of cranes, scaffolding, compaction equipment, earthmoving equipment, fork-lifts trucks and portable accommodation. Other hiring income of $341 million was received by businesses in the personal and household goods industry and included the hiring of televisions, event equipment, furniture, whitegoods and recreation equipment.

The total expenses of these hiring businesses was $2,264 million, of which the major components were labour costs of $726 million and depreciation of hire equipment of $317 million. Other expenses included repair and maintenance, rent, leasing and hiring and the purchase of goods.

The operating profit before tax of $244 million, represented an operating profit margin of 8.6 percent. This operating profit varied between industries with the plant hire industry being 10.2 percent compared to 8.2 percent for the personal and household goods industry.

In total, there were 1,296 employing businesses in the hiring industries operating from 2,095 outlets.

At the end of June 2000, there were 16,278 people working in the hire industries. While most employees (12,394 people) worked on a full-time basis, the proportions varied between industries with 80 percent of employees being full-time in the plant hire industry and 59 percent being full-time in the personal and household goods industry. The average labour cost per employee in the hire industries was $45,700.

Further details can be found in Hire Industries, Australia 1999-2000 (Preliminary) (cat. no. 8565.0) available from ABS bookshops. If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication, contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.