Australia’s building industry maintains a robust structure, with a large number of small and large businesses.
The latest industry figures confirm there were 457,117 construction businesses in Australia operating as of 31st March 2025. These numbers include a wide range of businesses of all shapes and sizes, from large commercial construction firms and civil works, to local roof plumbing companies.
The economic contribution of the sector is clearly defined by its outputs. In the year leading up to March 2025, the total value of building and construction work completed reached $318.9 billion.
This output represented approximately 11.6 per cent of Australia’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Furthermore, the combined industry turnover across all construction businesses in Australia recorded $624.6 billion during the 2023-24 financial year.
Beyond revenue, the sector is a critical component of the national employment market, directly responsible for approximately 1.3 million people.
Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) indicates varied activity across different construction segments. In the June quarter of 2025, the total volume of construction work done increased by 3.0 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Analysis shows that this growth was largely driven by civil and engineering projects, which registered a 6.1 per cent rise in volume. In contrast, the general building work segment, covering both residential and non-residential projects, saw a minimal increase of just 0.2 per cent.
The persistent count of over 450,000 construction businesses in Australia confirms the widespread commitment and continuous engagement required across our industry as it manages the dual pressures of large government infrastructure pipelines, ongoing housing projects, and the fluctuating cost environment impacting smaller, private developments.
Sources
- https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/latest-release
- https://masterbuilders.com.au/about-us/our-industry/
- https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/nuts-and-bolts-australian-construction-industry
- https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/building-and-construction/construction-work-done-australia-preliminary/latest-release
