Latest data available, updated 16 October 2025
As the Australian economy decelerated, the performance of its industries weakened across the financial year. Capex growth, value-add, sales, profits and employment generation grew at marginal rates.
Growth in Australian industry value-add increased to 5.6% in the year to the December quarter 2025. Following a period of volatility during the pandemic, growth in industry value-add has decelerated since mid-2022. While most industries are now slowing, agriculture, other services, accommodation & food and financial services – continue to grow.
Business income from sales of goods and services grew 5.0% in the year to the December quarter 2025. Sales income growth has slowed considerably following a post-pandemic rebound, when it grew at 19.8% y/y in the third quarter of 2022. Sales growth remains strong for the financial services, manufacturing, ICT and transport but has fallen for the utilities, construction and mining industries.
Australian filled jobs growth was 1.2% p.a. in the year to the December quarter 2025. This is the second quarter that job creation growth slowed to 2017 levels after the pandemic boom, yet it remains above the long-run trend. It is slower in industries grappling with skills shortages and vacancy challenges, particularly manufacturing, wholesale trade, agriculture, retail trade and mining sectors.
Australia’s non-mining capital expenditure grew by 12.1% in the year to December 2025, although it rose, it is well below the 23.7% surge seen in June 2023. Capex growth dropped significantly in the year, following a declining trend seen in other industrial indicators. ICT, administrative, transport, healthcare & social assistance services, arts & recreation services and accommodation & food services report higher growth rates. It has declined for financial services, construction, other services and real estate services.
Non-mining business profits were 4.1% over the year to the December quarter 2025. Following a period of volatility during the pandemic, growth in have slowed since 2022. Most industries reported profits growth, with administrative services (-12.6%) the lowest among them.
Industry value add measures the value of industry output less the value of intermediate inputs. It provides an indicator of how much economic output is being generated by an industry.
Income from sales of goods and services measures the value of goods sales and fees from services and commissions. It provides an indicator of business sales performance within industries.
Filled jobs measures the number of jobs which are not currently vacant. It includes both full- and part-time employees. Growth in filled jobs provides an indicator of aggregate job creation by industry.
Capital expenditure (capex) measures expenditure on new tangible assets, such as buildings, structures, equipment, plant and machinery. It excludes business investment on non-tangible assets. It provides an indicator of business investment in physical assets.
Business gross operating profit measures the operating profit of both incorporated (company) and unincorporated businesses. It excludes interest income and expenses, depreciation and amortisation, and financial items not related to the production of goods and services. It provides an indicator of changes in the profitability of industries, before financial factors such as cost of capital and tax are taken into account.
Sources: The data in this factsheet are derived from various ABS industry and labour surveys. Data is collected on a quarterly basis, and is typically released two months following the reference period (i.e. June quarter data is released in early September). Australian Industry Group Research & Economics will update this factsheet as ABS data is released. Refer to notes in the charts for links to the ABS source data.
Australian Industry Group Research & Economics Team
The Workplace Advice Line is Australian Industry Group’s national telephone advisory service for members’ on-the-spot workplace-related questions.
You can also use Adviser Messaging when logged into our website. Click Message Us (at the bottom of each page) for simple queries, with support from our workplace advisers.
Call the Workplace Advice Line
1300 55 66 77 and press option 1
(Overseas: +61 3 9867 0100).
Email: Send an Email
Weekdays from 8.30am to 5.30pm
(Australian Eastern Daylight/Standard Time)
Want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you.
