1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2004  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/02/2004   
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Contents >> Communications and information technology >> The communication services industries

The communication services industries encompass telecommunication services, and postal and courier services. These industries comprise the Communication Services Division of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC).

The Australian national accounts provide some statistics about the communication services industries including a measure of its overall contribution to the total level of economic activity in Australia, gross domestic product (GDP). These are presented in table 23.1. The chain volume measure of gross value added by the communication services industries increased by 3.0% from 2000-01 to 2001-02, which was an improvement over the previous year's small increase of 0.8%. However, these recent annual increases are substantially below those experienced in earlier years, which were regularly showing around 10% annual growth.

23.1 COMMUNICATION SERVICES INDUSTRIES, Gross value added(a)

Units
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02

At current prices(b)
Value
$m
15,615
17,157
18,087
18,129
19,236
19,412
Change from previous period
%
7.1
9.9
5.4
0.2
6.1
0.9
Chain volume measures(c)
Value
$m
14,536
16,093
17,844
19,087
19,236
19,814
Change from previous period
%
10.3
10.7
10.9
7.0
0.8
3.0
Contribution to GDP
%
2.5
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.9
2.8

(a) The value of output at basic prices minus the value of intermediate consumption at purchasers' prices. Basic prices valuation of output removes the distortion caused by variations in the incidence of commodity taxes and subsidies across the output of industries.
(b) Estimates valued at the prices of the period to which the observation relates.
(c) Estimates revalued to remove the direct effects of changes in prices over time. The reference year for chain volume measures is 2000-01.
Source: Australian System of National Accounts, 2001-02 (5204.0).

Total factor income is that part of the cost of producing the GDP which consists of gross payments to factors of production (labour and capital) and is equal to the sum of compensation of employees, gross operating surplus and gross mixed income. Examination of the total factor income for the communication services industries shows changes in the share of income accruing to labour (i.e. compensation of employees) compared with the share accruing to capital (i.e. profits). Graph 23.2 shows how the shares accruing to wages and to profits for the communication services industries have changed since 1995-96.

Graph - 23.2 Communication services industries total factor income


Table 23.3 shows key measures of industry structure and performance for the communication services industries, compiled from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) annual Economic Activity Survey of employing businesses. The main features are:
  • The number of communication services businesses continued to grow, reaching 4,389 businesses at 30 June 2001. The number of businesses increased by 5% in the year to 30 June 2001, following a 7% increase in the year to 30 June 2000.
  • Employment reached a peak in 1995-96 (137,000 persons) and fluctuated within a narrow range over the next few years. In the year to 30 June 2001, employment increased by 0.4% to 120,000 persons.
  • Gross operating surplus increased by 5% between 1999-2000 and 2000-01, turning around the decrease of 1% between 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
  • Operating profit before tax increased by 5% between 1999-2000 and 2000-01, following a fall of less than 1% between 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
  • Net worth grew by 10% in 2000-01, replicating a 10% rise in 1999-2000.
  • Capital spending has fluctuated over the years, but increased by 80% between 1999-2000 and 2000-01, following an increase of 30% between 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
23.3 COMMUNICATION SERVICES INDUSTRIES, Structure and performance

Units
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01

Industry structure
Businesses at 30 June
no.
2,363
3,049
3,540
3,899
4,172
4,389
Employment at 30 June
’000
137
125
118
119
119
120
Income statement
Sales of goods and services
$m
21,631
23,691
24,696
29,432
32,696
34,407
less Cost of sales
$m
9,271
11,135
9,827
13,548
17,077
17,469
equals Trading profit
$m
12,360
12,556
14,869
15,884
15,619
16,938
plus Interest
$m
179
171
140
155
137
180
plus Other operating income
$m
624
77
19
252
886
894
less Labour costs
$m
6,273
6,605
6,122
5,548
5,578
6,071
less Depreciation
$m
2,791
3,026
2,961
3,354
3,787
3,640
less Other operating expenses
$m
142
442
426
399
373
1,037
equals Earnings before interest and tax
$m
3,957
2,731
5,520
6,989
6,904
7,264
less Interest expenses
$m
723
742
916
836
798
858
equals Operating profit before tax
$m
3,234
1,989
4,603
6,153
6,105
6,406
Total assets
$m
34,373
37,964
36,358
40,608
45,798
55,898
Total liabilities
$m
17,729
23,713
21,196
22,530
25,882
34,039
Net worth
$m
16,643
14,251
15,162
18,079
19,916
21,858
Capital expenditure
$m
6,217
5,365
5,304
6,173
8,004
14,373
Gross operating surplus
$m
6,615
8,351
9,585
11,558
11,447
11,994

Source: Business Operations and Industry Performance, Australia, 2000-01 (8140.0).



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