8167.0 - Selected Characteristics of Australian Business, 2013-14
Quality Declaration

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 20/08/2015
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BUSINESS PERFORMANCE AND BARRIERS
An increase in income from sales of goods or services compared to the previous year was reported by 36% of businesses, almost the same proportion of businesses that reported a decrease (32%). Over a third of businesses reported a decrease in profitability compared to the previous year (34%). Businesses with 200 or more persons employed were most likely to report a decrease in total number of jobs or positions (28%), contracting out work/activities or outsourcing (11%), expenditure on IT (10%) and amount of structured/formal training for employees (6%). Businesses in the Mining industry were most likely to report decreases in the total number of jobs or positions (32%), productivity (24%), expenditure on IT (19%), social contributions (16%), contracting out work/activities or outsourcing (16%), amount of structured/formal training for employees (14%) and range of products or services offered (13%). In 2013-14, for each of the performance indicators provided, innovation-active businesses were more likely to have had an increase in an indicator or activity from the previous year than non innovation-active businesses. For example, innovation-active businesses were more than twice as likely to increase in productivity (30%) and the total number of jobs or positions (21%) than non innovation-active businesses (14% and 8% respectively). Further statistics relating to change in business performance can be accessed via the Downloads tab. Barriers to general business activities Businesses were asked if any factors significantly hampered the business in its general business activities or performance during the year ended 30 June 2014. It should be noted that businesses were not provided with a definition of what constituted a significant level of hampering and were not asked to rank barriers in order of significance.
The most common barrier hampering general business activities or performance was lower profit margins to remain competitive (26%). Businesses in the Agriculture industry were the most likely to be hampered by cost of inputs (34%), and environmental factors (30%), while businesses in the Financial and insurance services industry were the most likely to be hampered by government regulations and compliance as a barrier (31%). Further statistics relating to barriers to general business activities can be accessed via the Downloads tab. Barriers to innovative activity All businesses were asked if any factors significantly hampered the business in the development or introduction of any new or improved goods, services, operational or organisational/managerial processes or marketing methods during the year ended 30 June 2014. It should be noted that businesses were not provided with a definition of what constituted a significant level of hampering and were not asked to rank barriers in order of significance.
Almost one in five businesses reported lack of access to additional funds (18%), making this the most frequently reported barrier, followed by cost of development of introduction/implementation (14%). Businesses with 5-19 persons employed were most likely to have lack of access to additional funds (21%) and cost of development of introduction/implementation (18%) as barriers to innovation. Businesses with 20-199 persons employed were most likely to report lack of skilled persons within the business (16%) and government regulations and compliance (14%) as barriers to innovation. By industry, businesses in Accommodation and food services were most likely to have at least one barrier to innovation (52%). Businesses in the Accommodation and food services and Mining industries were most likely to have lack of access to additional funds (both 28%) and cost of development of introduction/implementation (23% and 19% respectively). Innovation-active businesses were more than twice as likely as non innovation-active businesses to report at least one barrier to innovation (58% compared with 24%). Further statistics relating to barriers to innovative activity can be accessed via the Downloads tab. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.
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