WHOLESALE INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

The businesses that contribute to the statistics in this publication are classified by Industry in accordance with the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 edition (cat. no. 1292.0).

Wholesale businesses are classified to:

• Subdivision 33 Basic material wholesaling
• Subdivision 34 Machinery and equipment wholesaling
• Subdivision 35 Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts wholesaling
• Subdivision 36 Grocery, liquor and tobacco product wholesaling
• Subdivision 37 Other goods wholesaling
• Subdivision 38 Commission-based wholesaling

The following graphs and commentary refer to income, expenses and industry value added (IVA) for the 2012–13 reference period, and employment at end June 2013.


Employment and Wages, by Subdivision contribution

At end June 2013, the Wholesale Industry employed 553,730 persons. Machinery and equipment wholesaling, employed 176,059 persons (or 31.8%), followed by Other goods wholesaling and Basic material wholesaling employing 126,331 (or 22.8%) and 106,932 (or 19.3%) persons respectively. This was followed by Grocery, liquor and tobacco product wholesaling accounting for 82,156 persons (or 14.8%). Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts wholesaling and Commission-based wholesaling combined accounted for 11.2% (or 62,252 persons).

During 2012-13, the Wholesale Industry paid wages and salaries of $34.7b. Of total wages and salaries, Machinery and equipment wholesaling contributed the largest share (39.1% or $13.6b), followed by Other goods wholesaling (19.8% or $6.9b) and Basic material wholesaling (18.4% or $6.4b). Grocery, liquor and tobacco products wholesaling accounted for 11.8% ($4.1b) and the remaining 10.9% is comprised of both Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts wholesaling and Commission-based wholesaling ($2.7b and $1.1b respectively).

Average wage per employee for the Wholesale Industry was $63,298 (excluding working proprietors and partners of incorporated businesses). Highest average wage per employee was paid by Machinery and equipment wholesaling ($77,155) whilst Grocery, liquor and tobacco products wholesaling had the lowest average wage ($50,530).


Sales of goods and Total income

During 2012–13, wholesale businesses generated total income of $493.1b, the majority of which comprised sales of goods bought in and resold ($444.1b). Businesses in Basic material wholesaling and Machinery and equipment wholesaling accounted for over half of total sales of goods bought in and resold (57.1% or $253.5b) and total income (57.9% or $285.6b). The remaining Wholesale Subdivisions contributed 42.9% (or $190.6b) to total sales of goods bought in a resold and 42.1% (or $207.5b) to total income.

Purchases of goods and Total expenses

During 2012–13 wholesale businesses incurred total expenses of $477.3b, of which purchases of goods accounted for 78.3% (or $373.7b). Businesses in Basic material wholesaling and Machinery and equipment wholesaling account for over half of total expenses (58.3% or $278.5b) and total purchases of goods (59.4% or $222.0b). The remaining Wholesale Subdivisions contributed 41.7% (or $198.8b) to total expenses and 40.6% (or $151.7b) to total purchases of goods.




Key figures by employment size

Large businesses (employment of 200+)

Large businesses contributed the greatest share of Wholesale Industry total income (41.6% or $205.4b), total expenses (41.5% or $198.3b) and industry value added (37.2% or $23.6b), but contributed the lowest share to total employment (29.8% or 165,146 persons). Machinery and equipment wholesaling recorded the largest share for employment (42.0% or 69,287 persons) and industry value added (44.1% or $10.4b), whilst Basic material wholesaling contributed the greatest share to total income (37.3% or $76.5b) and total expenses (37.9% or $75.2b).

Medium businesses (employment of 20 to less than 200 persons)

Medium businesses accounted for the greatest share of Wholesale Industry total employment (36.7% or 203,133 persons) and contributed similar shares for total income (35.5% or $175.2b), total expenses (35.5% or $169.6b) and industry value added (37.0% or $23.4b). Machinery and equipment wholesaling contributed the largest share of employment (29.5% or 59,915 persons) and industry value added (31.9% or $7.5b). Basic materials wholesaling recorded the greatest contribution to total income (34.4% or $60.3b) and total expenses (34.7% or $58.9b).

Small businesses (employment of less than 20 persons)

Small businesses accounted for 22.8% (or $112.5b) of Wholesale Industry total income, 22.9% (or $109.5) of total expenses, 25.8% (or $16.3b) of industry value added, and employed 33.5% (or 185,451 persons) at end June 2013. Other goods wholesaling and Machinery and equipment wholesaling together contributed just over half (51.8% or 96,016 persons) of total employment and industry value added (50.7% or $8.3b). Basic materials wholesaling recorded the largest share of total income (29.5% or $33.2b) and total expenses (31.0% or $33.9b).