Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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INTRODUCTION

The construction industry has a major influence on every Australian. Construction provides homes, places for people to work, and recreation facilities. It provides essential facilities and infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads, water and electricity supply and telecommunications. The construction industry plays a significant role in the Australian economy. The demand for, and supply of construction is influenced by a variety of factors including interest rates, tax reforms and changes in populations.

The construction industry, and its activities, is strongly linked to other parts of the Australian economy such as manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade, and finance and insurance industries. In addition, architectural and engineering professions are closely linked with the industry.

In 2003-04 the construction industry's share of the total production of goods and services in the Australian economy (gross domestic product) was 6.2%.

The construction industry engages in three broad areas of activity:

• residential building (e.g. houses, flats, etc.)

• non-residential building (e.g. offices, shops, hotels, etc.)

• engineering construction (e.g. roads, bridges, water, sewerage, etc.).