The private sector in Canberra employs around two-thirds of all working Canberrans, and the Canberra Business Chamber has today released a new statistical overview of the business sector.

“There are some 36,000 businesses in Canberra who, collectively, employ two-thirds of all working Canberrans,” Canberra Business Chamber Chief Executive Greg Harford said today. “Compared to the national picture, the economy here in the ACT is dominated by ‘professional, scientific and technical services’ firms, reflecting the orientation of the private sector here towards servicing the Federal Government.

“While the business sector is continuing to grow, most are very small. More than half of firms are sole traders employing no staff, while just three per cent of firms employ more than 20 people. Canberra is dominated by small to medium enterprises, and 91 per cent turn over less than $2 million a year.

“The relatively small scale of most Canberra businesses means that they are disproportionately impacted by regulatory and compliance burdens that consume vast amounts of time and resource by small business owners.

“The Canberra business sector faces a number of challenges, but is a really important part of the economy. A thriving business sector is critical to a thriving jobs market, and delivers the services we need to both consumers and to the public sector.”

A copy of the report is attached.

-ENDS-

CBC Media Contact: Greg Harford, CEO of CBC, 0423 357 066
CBC Office: 02 6247 4199