^ estimate has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution

* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution

** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use

np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

(a) Includes ANZSIC06 classes Wired telecommunications network operation, Other telecommunications network operation and Other telecommunications services. These 3 classes have been combined for confidentiality reasons.

ICT industries include businesses engaged in the production and distribution of ICT goods and services. In Australia, these are Computer system design services, Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance, and relevant Information media and Telecommunications, Manufacturing and Wholesale trade industry classes, as defined in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC), 2006 (1292.0).

Table 25.1 provides information about businesses in the ICT industries.

As reflected by the total gross income for ICT businesses in the Manufacturing industry grouping, this sector was very small in Australia in 2006-07. The total gross income of this industry grouping was $4,404 million (m) in 2006-07, with most income coming from sales of goods produced (80.2% or $3,533m). Total sales of goods produced was mainly made up of: radio, television and communication equipment and apparatus ($860m); office, accounting and computing equipment ($807m); and other electronic equipment ($642m).

In 2006-07, ICT businesses in the Wholesale trade industry grouping reported total income of $50,903m. The majority of gross income came from sales of goods purchased for resale (88.4% or $44,997m) including: non-ICT electrical and electronic equipment not elsewhere classified ($15,380m); computer hardware, parts and components ($14,141m); and communications hardware, parts and components ($6,446m).

The Information media and telecommunications industry grouping reported total income of $40,208m in 2006-07. Two thirds of this income ($26,664m) came from the provision of telecommunication services. These were in turn mainly made up of: mobile and messaging services ($11,800m); and basic telephony services ($9,586m). Internet services was the other main income earner for this industry group, accounting for a further $5,853m (14.6%) of the total income.

The Computer system design and related services industry grouping reported total income of $26,049m in 2006-07. The major source of income was the provision of computer services ($18,178m) including: other consultancy ($4,428m); hardware consultancy ($4,062m); customised software consultancy ($4,017m); and other software consultancy ($3,706m). In addition, the Computer system design and related services industry grouping earned $5,483m from sales of goods (21.0% of total income).

The Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance industry grouping reported total income of $1,275m in 2006-07. The major source of income was repair and maintenance services ($837m or 65.7%), including: repair and maintenance of ICT equipment ($514m); and repair and maintenance of non-ICT equipment ($323m). Sales of goods accounted for a further 26.8% ($341m) of total income for this industry grouping.

ICT businesses recorded total operating profit before tax (OPBT) of $10,331m in 2006-07. OPBT was highest for ICT businesses in the Information media and telecommunications industry grouping ($4,894m) and lowest for the Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance industry grouping ($112m). The overall operating profit margin for ICT businesses was 8.5% in 2006-07. At the industry grouping level, profit margins ranged from a high of 12.4% for Information media and telecommunications to a low of 6.1% for Wholesale trade.

In 2006-07, businesses with 100 or more employees accounted for 51.6% (154,603 people) of all ICT employment (299,805 people) and 68.4% ($83,991m) of total income earned by all ICT businesses. In contrast, businesses with 0-19 employees accounted for 30.1% (90,105 people) of ICT employment but only 15.4% ($18,958m) of total income. OPBT for ICT businesses with 100 or more employees totalled $7,668m in 2006-07. This compared with $1,427m for ICT businesses with 0-19 employees, $897m for those with 20-99 employees, and $338m for non-employing businesses.

Table 25.2 shows total income from the production of selected ICT products in 2006-07 was $63,063m. The majority of this income was attributable to the provision of services, namely: telecommunication services ($34,273m or 54.3%); and computer services ($23,250m or 36.9%).