8695.0 - Accommodation Industry, Australia, 1997-98  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/08/1999   
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MEDIA RELEASE

August 05, 1999
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
90/1999

Accommodation industry income up - ABS

Figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that businesses in the accommodation industry generated $6,763 million in total income in 1997-98. This was an increase of 29% since 1995-96. In total 61% ($4,141 million) of income was sourced from the provision of accommodation while 25% ($1,673 million) was generated from meal and liquor sales.

In 1997-98 the Australian accommodation industry recorded an operating profit before tax of $502 million, which represented an operating profit margin of 7.8%. This was the same operating profit margin as recorded in 1995-96.

During 1997-98 businesses in this industry incurred $6,269 million in expenses. The major expense item was labour costs which accounted for 33% ($2,035 million) of total costs.

There were 97,201 people employed in the industry at the end of June 1998, an increase of 20% since June 30 1996. Of those employed, 59% (57,149) were female.

At the end of June 1998, 88% of businesses in the industry employed fewer than 20 people. These businesses accounted for only 30% of people employed in the industry and 26% of total income of the industry. In contrast, the 145 businesses employing more than 100 people accounted for 2% of all businesses in the industry, but accounted for 49% of industry employment and 53% of total income of the industry.

Businesses in the accommodation industry in 1997-98 were concentrated in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. They accounted for 78% of people employed in the industry and 80% of total income.

Copies of the publication Accommodation Industry, Australia, 1997-98 (cat. no. 8695.0) are available in all ABS bookshops. A summary of the publication is also available on this site. The ABS encourages media organisations with online news services to link to the summary. Please phone us if you need assistance to do this.