Infrastructure and the Economy
Chapter 1
This chapter provides data on the Australian economy including the value added by Australian infrastructure industries in addition to:
- employment in the transport, energy, communication and water industries
- average weekly earnings for road, rail, water and air and space industries
- price indices
- population
- 9.2 per cent of Australia’s GDP was accounted for by Australia’s major infrastructure industries in 2022-23.
- 1 million people were employed in Australia’s major infrastructure industries in August 2023.
- $1,441 is the average weekly earnings for the road transport industry in 2021.
- 84 per cent of people employed by the road transport industry identify as male.
The gross value added of major infrastructure industries as a percentage of GDP has remained relatively stable since 1974-75, generally ranging between 9-10% of GDP, with the transport postal and warehousing industry specifically ranging between 4-5% over the same timeframe. In terms of employment, although employment in the transport, postal and warehousing industry have grown in overall terms, as a percentage of total Australian employment, it has stayed at around 5% for the last 30 years.
Figure 1 Australian employment numbers in selected major infrastructure industries
Figure 1 shows employment statistics for various transport industries as at August of each year. Although in 2021 COVID-19 had reduced Australian employment numbers in road, rail, and air and space transport industries, this year has shown signs of recovery, closing in on 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
Figure 2 Leadership positions held in transport industries, by gender
Figure 2 provides an insight into gender statistics by comparing the number of leadership positions held by men and women within the transport industry. In 2019, leadership positions in the transport industry were predominantly occupied by males, with 2258 males in Chief Executive Officer, Key Management Personnel, Chair Person and Director roles compared to 460 females.