What margins Australian industries make
This page shows EBITDA and operating profit as shares of sales, by industry, each year. Labour costs and purchases are shown the same way.
Each figure adds up every business in an industry. It is not a typical business, and a few large firms can carry an industry's figure.
- Operating profit includes other income, such as interest and dividends, so it can be higher than EBITDA.
- Finance covers only auxiliary finance and insurance services, such as brokers. Banks and insurers are not included.
- Education, health care and public administration cover private providers only.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Industry (8155.0). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Margins and shares are onestepright's arithmetic on the ABS figures.
| Industry | EBITDA margin (%) | Operating profit margin (%) | Labour costs (%) | Purchases (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mining | 41.1 | 31.2 | 11.0 | 18.6 |
| Rental, hiring and real estate services | 40.1 | 32.1 | 14.8 | 12.9 |
| Information media and telecommunications | 20.8 | 6.3 | 22.2 | 20.0 |
| Electricity, gas, water and waste services | 20.4 | 7.8 | 12.1 | 46.4 |
| Transport, postal and warehousing | 18.6 | 9.9 | 23.0 | 15.8 |
| Auxiliary finance and insurance services | 17.6 | 25.3 | 31.9 | 2.7 |
| Health care and social assistance (private) | 16.4 | 17.6 | 50.2 | 9.1 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 15.9 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 50.3 |
| Arts and recreation services | 14.0 | 13.3 | 27.5 | 11.2 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 12.6 | 17.5 | 41.4 | 14.1 |
| Accommodation and food services | 12.0 | 8.1 | 30.3 | 32.9 |
| Education and training (private) | 10.5 | 6.0 | 58.4 | 7.5 |
| Construction | 10.1 | 9.5 | 17.9 | 41.1 |
| Public administration and safety (private) | 9.7 | 9.1 | 51.1 | 9.9 |
| Administrative and support services | 9.2 | 9.1 | 53.7 | 9.0 |
| Manufacturing | 8.8 | 6.3 | 16.6 | 58.7 |
| Retail trade | 8.0 | 5.9 | 12.1 | 69.6 |
| Other services | 7.7 | 13.8 | 37.4 | 32.3 |
| Wholesale trade | 5.9 | 5.8 | 8.5 | 76.3 |
| All industries covered | 14.7 | 12.0 | 20.9 | 41.2 |
Each figure is a share of sales and service income.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Industry (8155.0). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Margins and shares are onestepright's arithmetic on the ABS figures.
Margins over time, Electricity, gas, water and waste services
See everything we hold on electricity, gas, water and waste.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Industry (8155.0). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Margins and shares are onestepright's arithmetic on the ABS figures.
| Year | EBITDA margin (%) | Operating profit margin (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 26.0 | 16.4 |
| 2007-08 | 24.1 | 13.2 |
| 2008-09 | 23.5 | 13.0 |
| 2009-10 | 24.1 | 11.9 |
| 2010-11 | 25.4 | 13.1 |
| 2011-12 | 26.6 | 11.9 |
| 2012-13 | 25.4 | 11.5 |
| 2013-14 | 25.6 | 13.1 |
| 2014-15 | 27.5 | 13.0 |
| 2015-16 | 26.7 | 11.1 |
| 2016-17 | 27.6 | 12.4 |
| 2017-18 | 26.3 | 13.1 |
| 2018-19 | 25.5 | 12.4 |
| 2019-20 | 24.8 | 8.6 |
| 2020-21 | 24.6 | 12.0 |
| 2021-22 | 21.8 | 9.8 |
| 2022-23 | 20.4 | 8.4 |
| 2023-24 | 21.1 | 8.8 |
| 2024-25 | 20.4 | 7.8 |
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Industry (8155.0). Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Margins and shares are onestepright's arithmetic on the ABS figures.
Figures to 2024-25. They change when the ABS publishes a new year.
Who in your business can move a price, and by how much? The pricing check takes about ten minutes.