BUSINESS OWNERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY


The following analysis includes the Australian Capital Territory and SA4s in New South Wales.

WHERE DO BUSINESS OWNERS LIVE?

In 2009-2010, the proportion of income earners who were business owners ranged from 10% to 27% in SA4s. The SA4s with the highest proportions of business owners were New England and North West, with 27%, followed by Far West and Orana, Richmond - Tweed and Central West with 24%. Sydney - Blacktown had the lowest proportion of business owners in New South Wales, with 10%. The Australian Capital Territory also had a low proportion of business owners, with 10%.

HOW MUCH DOES UNINCORPORATED BUSINESS INCOME CONTRIBUTE TO TOTAL INCOME FROM ALL SOURCES?

In 2009-2010, the contribution of income from unincorporated businesses to total income from all sources in SA4s ranged from 4% to 9%. The SA4s in which income from unincorporated businesses made the highest contributions were Sydney - Eastern Suburbs, Richmond - Tweed and Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby (9%). Hunter Valley exc Newcastle, Sydney - Blacktown and Sydney - Outer South West had the lowest contributions with 4%. At 4%, the Australian Capital Territory was among the regions where income from unincorporated businesses made a low contribution to total income from all sources.


WHAT INDUSTRIES DO BUSINESS OWNERS WORK IN?

In 2011, business owners in New South Wales tended to work in the same industries as business owners across Australia. Construction was the main industry of employment for business owners in many SA4s in Greater Sydney and the rest of New South Wales. There were regional differences in business ownership in agriculture, forestry and fishing and professional, scientific and technical services. Other industries that contributed to the diversity of business ownership in SA4s included retail trade, transport, postal and warehousing, health care and social assistance and other services.

Construction

In 2011, between 8% and 26% of business owners in SA4s in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory worked in construction. Central Coast (26%) and Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven (24%) had the highest proportions of business owners in construction. The Australian Capital Territory also had a high proportion of business owners in construction with 24%. Sydney - City and Inner South had the lowest proportion with 8%.

Between 2006 and 2011, the number of people employed in the construction industry in New South Wales increased by 8%. However, business ownership in the construction industry decreased in most SA4s. Sydney - South West and Central West had the largest decrease with 10%, while Sydney - Northern Beaches had the smallest decrease of 1%. Three SA4s experienced an increase in the number of business owners working in construction; the largest increase was 9% in Sydney - City and Inner South.

In the Australian Capital Territory, the number of people employed in the construction industry increased by 25% between 2006 and 2011. As in New South Wales, however, this increase was not reflected among business owners, whose number decreased by 12% during the period.Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

In 2011, the proportions of business owners in agriculture, forestry and fishing were highest in SA4s in the rest of New South Wales. Far West and Orana had the highest proportion of business owners working in agriculture, forestry and fishing with 39%, followed by New England and North West with 35%. The Australian Capital Territory was among the regions with a low proportion of business owners in agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 1%.

Between 2006 and 2011, the number of business owners in agriculture, forestry and fishing decreased in all SA4s in New South Wales. Among SA4s outside Greater Sydney, the decrease in the number of business owners in agriculture, forestry and fishing ranged from 6% in Far West and Orana to 25% in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. The decrease in the number of business owners in agriculture, forestry and fishing reflected an overall decrease in the number of people working in this industry in New South Wales, which fell by 12%.

In the Australian Capital Territory, the number of people employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing decreased by 28% between 2006 and 2011 and there was a similar decrease (27%) in the number of business owners working in this industry.Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

In 2011, between 4% and 27% of business owners in SA4s in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory worked in the professional, scientific and technical services industry, with the largest proportions in SA4s in Greater Sydney. Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby was highest, with 27%, followed by Sydney - Eastern Suburbs with 24%. The Australian Capital Territory, with 14%, also had a high proportion of business owners in professional, scientific and technical services.Between 2006 and 2011, the number of people employed in professional, scientific and technical services increased in both New South Wales (16%) and the Australian Capital Territory (14%). Similarly, the number of business owners increased in almost all of the SA4s in New South Wales. Sydney - City and Inner South had the largest increase of 30%, followed by Sydney - South West (24%) and Mid North Coast (21%). Two regions experienced a decrease in the number of business owners in this industry: Riverina (10%) and Murray (2%).

In the Australian Capital Territory, the number of business owners in professional, scientific and technical services increased by 2% between 2006 and 2011.