PROFITABILITY AND EARNINGS
Operating profit before tax (OPBT) for Total selected industries in 2009-10 was $271.3b. The percentage contribution by small businesses was 42.3%, medium businesses 15.7% and large businesses 42.0%. Small businesses include many non-employing businesses which make a higher contribution to OPBT than to most of the other variables presented, as the drawings and/or labour costs of working proprietors and partners are not reflected in estimates of business expenses.
For Total selected industries, the estimated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was $322.6b in 2009-10. The largest absolute increases in EBITDA between 2008-09 and 2009-10 occurred in Construction ($2.3b, or 7.9%), Electricity, gas, water and waste services ($2.1b, or 11.1%) and Retail trade ($2.0b, or 9.9%). The largest decrease (in both absolute and percentage terms) in EBITDA was in Mining ($15.8b, or 21.5%).