If you need to analyse an industry, its size and the level of competition, The Australian Bureau of Statistics is a great place to start. It publishes a comprehensive set of data on the number of businesses in each industry including:
- their size by employee number and turnover
- their state and industry (using the detailed standard industry classification ANZSIC)
- how many have entered or exited the industry in each year.
The data is available for download in excel, and with a little manipulation you can form a comprehensive view of what’s happening in an industry.
For example, in the financial year ended June 2012, there were 811 entries and 563 exits in the “Non-Store Retailing” industry in Victoria. This represents high turnover (relatively high rates of entry and exit) from a base of 2625. The survival rate of those businesses from 2008 to 2012 was 4th lowest of all industries, at 43%, but much higher (70%) for those employing more than 20 people, and lowest (38%) for non-employers. By the end of 2012 there were 2883 businesses in that industry in Victoria, about half earning <$50k, a quarter between $50k to $200k, and 22% up to $2m and about 3% earning >$2m.
In March 2014 the business count data will be updated to include FY2013. The full set of business count data is available for download at the ABS website, and also see the full list of ABS Industry Wide Data.
Or take a quick look at these sample datasets:
• Businesses by State and Industry by turnover range
• Survival of businesses from 2008 – 2012 by State, industry, and employment size range
