8772.0 - Private Sector Construction Industry, Australia, 2002-03  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/12/2004   
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TECHNICAL NOTE 2 OWNER BUILDERS STUDY


INTRODUCTION

1 This publication presents data from the Construction Industry Survey which collected information from businesses whose predominant activity was construction. However, some construction activity, particularly related to residential building is done by private individuals for their own use. These individuals are generally referred to as owner builders and were excluded from the scope of the Construction Industry Survey.


2 The ABS undertook a study of owner builders to investigate the relationship between the various inputs, which included payments to contractors, purchase of materials and the value of the owner builders' own labour. Owner builders are, however, included in the ABS Building Activity Survey, and were recorded as undertaking 13% ($2.9b) of the total work done on private sector houses in 2002-03 in current price, original terms.



STUDY DESIGN

3 This study selected 300 representative construction jobs from the quarterly Building Activity Survey sample that:

  • were classified as a house;
  • had been undertaken by an identified private sector owner builder; and
  • had been completed in the December 2002, March 2003 or June 2003 reference quarters.

4 Of these jobs, 183 owner builders responded and were in-scope of the study.



FINDINGS

5 The results of the investigation are presented in the table below showing the ratio of selected inputs. For further discussion of the results, refer to the Main features on page 9.

RATIO OF SELECTED INPUTS
Type of Work
New(a)
Alterations and additions(b)
Total
%
%
%
Expenses
Payments to contractors
37
38
37
Purchases of materials
43
39
42
Other
3
2
3
Total
82
80
82
Value of own labour
18
20
18
(a) Building activity which results in the creation of a building that did not previously exist.
(b) Building activity carried out on an existing building.


6 For more information on the Owner Builders Study, contact David Signorelli on (08) 8237 7308.


7 For more information on building activity, please see the publication Building Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8752.0).