Australia Yearbook - 2001

758 Year Book Australia 2001
In contrast, income from the sale of computer
and communication hardware, parts and
consumables fell significantly in the period,
from $1,047m in 1995–96 to $535m in 1998–99.
The total expenditure of businesses in the
computer services industry during 1998–99 was
$9,654m. This resulted in an operating profit
before tax of $836m, which represented an
operating profit margin of 8.2%, significantly
higher than the 5.7% recorded in 1995–96, but
lower than the 9.5% recorded in 1992–93.
21.12 ACCOUNTING SERVICES INDUSTRY
1992–93 1995–96 Increase
no. no. %
Businesses 8 699 8 389 –3.6
persons persons %
Employment
Principals 14 143 15 409 9.0
Qualified employees 18 277 22 207 21.5
Other employees 27 580 29 175 5.8
Total employment 60 000 66 792 11.3
$m $m %
Total income 4 086.4 4 939.1 20.9
Operating profit before
tax 828.6 954.6 15.2
% %
Operating profit margin 20.5 19.4 . .
Source: Legal and Accounting Services, Australia, 1995–96
(8678.0).
21.13 INCOME FROM ACCOUNTING
SERVICES—1995–96
Value
Contribution
to total
Type of accounting service
$m
%
Auditing 895.9 20.3
General business and
personal accounting 1 311.6 29.8
Insolvency, reconstruction 236.3 5.4
Investment financial planning
advice 167.1 3.8
Taxation 1 574.6 35.7
Other accounting services 221.7 5.0
Total 4 407.2 100.0
Source: Legal and Accounting Services, Australia, 1995–96
(8678.0).
The computing services industry was concentrated
in New South Wales and Victoria, which together
accounted for 75% of total employment and 78%
of total income in 1998–99. States’ shares of both
employment and income were well above their
shares of the Australian population in 1998–99
(34% and 25% respectively). The average income
per business in the industry was $711,000.
Businesses operating in the Australian Capital
Territory (average income of $853,600) and New
South Wales ($813,000) had the highest average
income per business. The lowest were recorded
in Tasmania ($255,000) and the Northern
Territory ($252,800).
Consultant engineering services
The ABS conducted a survey of the consultant
engineering services industry for 1995–96, to
update the results of a survey in respect of
1992–93. There were 5,514 businesses in the
industry at 30 June 1996 (table 21.15). This
represented an increase of only 1% in the three
year period since June 1993.
The consultant engineering services industry
employed a total of 30,736 persons at
30 June 1996, of which full-time employment
accounted for 83% (25,384 persons).
Employment in the industry at 30 June 1996
represented a 9% increase since June 1993.
In addition to 30,736 employed persons, a further
8,212 persons were working on a contract or
agency basis in the industry at 30 June 1996.
The number of staff working on this basis more
than doubled since June 1993, when there were
3,954 contract and agency staff. Overall 38,948
persons were working in the industry at
30 June 1996, an increase of 21% since June 1993.
The 5,514 businesses operating at 30 June 1996
generated total income of $3,233m and had
expenses of $2,736m. The main sources of
income were civil engineering ($505m), mining
and geotechnical engineering services ($463m),
and building/structural engineering services
($391m). The main items of expense were labour
costs and payments to contractors and agency
staff, which together accounted for 64% of all
expenses in 1995–96.
The consultant engineering services industry
recorded an operating profit before tax of
$351m for the 1995–96 financial year, which
represented an operating profit margin of
11.0%. This was a significant increase on the
profit margin (6.7%) recorded in 1992–93.
Businesses in the consultant engineering services
industry were concentrated in four States.
Businesses operating in New South Wales
accounted for 28% of total income, while Victoria
(29%), Queensland (18%), and Western Australia
(18%) were the other significant contributors.