Small businesses operate across every industry and exist in many shapes and forms, from self-employed individuals and micro-businesses to family-run businesses and those employing up to 20 employees.

Small businesses in Queensland

482,000+

Small businesses in Queensland1, over 97% of all businesses

$117 billion

Contributed to the Queensland economy by small businesses2

1,026,000

Queenslanders employed by small businesses, around 42% of the private sector workforce3

78,000+

New small businesses were launched in 2022–235

60,000+

Tourism-related small businesses in Queensland, with around 30,000 non-employing businesses6

Queensland's diverse small business sector

124,000+

Regional small businesses located outside of SEQ1

120,165

Women who own/operate a small business4

47,777

Culturally and linguistically diverse small business owners4

9,338

Youth (15–24) indicated they own/manage a small business4

4,855

Indigenous business owners and operators4

299,000

Non-employing businesses1

Top industries for small businesses in Queensland in 2023

17.4%

Construction1

12.5%

Professional, Scientific and Technical1

11.9%

Rental Hiring and Real Estate1

8.6%

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing1

7.5%

Health Care and Social Assistance1

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 8165.0 Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits July 2019 to June 2023, released 18 December 2023. Definition of small business: businesses employing fewer than 20 employees.

2. Queensland Treasury using the data from Australian Bureau of Statistics – 5220.0 Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2021–22.

3. Australian Bureau of Statistics – 8155.0 Australian Industry, 2021–22.

4. Australian Bureau of Statistics – Census 2021 – Employment, Income and Education; Business sizes Nil Employees & 1 – 19 Employees.

5. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 8165.0 Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits July 2019 to June 2023, released 18 December 2023.

6. Australian Bureau of Statistics – Tourism Research Australia – Tourism businesses in Australia, June 2018 to June 2023.

Last updated 30 May 2024

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