Small Business

A rise in the number of men seeking work has led to a rise in the state's unemployment rate by almost 0.5 percentage points in June.

The state government has announced a $41.5 million support package for the thousands of small businesses affected by last week's four-day lockdown.

The state government has tasked Treasury with assessing potential compensation for small businesses affected by the latest snap four-day lockdown.

The state's unemployment rate may be nearing the full employment level, the state's business lobby has warned, amid concerns about a worker shortage.

A COVID-19 restructure supercharged T-shirt business Oli's evolution.

It's instructive for businesses to examine how their own startup ‘teaser deck' may look.

The state's peak business association has called on the state government to increase its relief for businesses affected by the lockdown and subsequent restrictions.

Work to improve access for vendors at Yagan Square will get under way within weeks, new Lands Minister Tony Buti says, after the precinct suffered a wave of closures.

RAC's BetterLabs Ventures has closed four new deals, including an investment into a previous Business News 40under40 winner's startup, The Volte.

The Morrison government has cautioned against a major increase in Australia's minimum wage, citing concerns about job creation.

Australia's second oldest family business, Lionel Samson Sadleirs, has sold its Plantagenet Wine business to Tom Wisdom, a sixth-generation descendant of founder Lionel Samson.

Growth in Western Australia's internal economy was slower than most other states in the December quarter, while national output grew 3.1 per cent.

The pandemic has boosted business for one furniture maker, who hopes a renewed focus on locally made products will continue to drive the sector.

After decades in construction, Robert Williams is building a new business, piece by piece.

More than 13,000 Western Australian jobs were lost in January, including 9,900 by women, according to new labour market data.

Many of Western Australia's small businesses carried a high degree of optimism into 2021, according to findings from the new 2020 BCEC Small Business Survey.

The Liberal Party WA has reiterated calls for better support for businesses, following new figures by Treasury indicating that the five-day lockdown cost the state $100 million.

The current health of the Western Australian economy is being reflected through the optimism and confidence reported by the state's small businesses.

Retail sales were 14 per cent higher in WA in December than the same month in 2019, although they softened by 2 per cent compared to November.

More than a third of WA's small businesses reported a loss in revenue due to the first wave of COVID-19 infections, according to Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre.

In today's COVID-19 wrap, Western Australia has recorded no new local cases of COVID-19, the WA Liberal Party demands a 24-hour testing clinic and businesses seek clarity on lockdown rules.

Western Australia's sudden descent into a five-day lockdown after the first local case of COVID in 10 months has proven problematic for the state's hospitality and retail sector.

WA's peak business body has backed the state government's snap move for a five day lockdown, but the national retail industry association was less impressed.

Prices in Perth deflated 1 per cent in the December quarter, thanks to the government's electricity credit, but there's an underlying upward pressure.

If elected, the state's Liberal Party will establish a new small business retail theft squad aimed at tackling shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and organised retail theft.

Entities related to seafood vendor The Fish Boss have gone into voluntary liquidation after suffering financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Subiaco-based Hiddlestone Electrics has taken an old-school approach to business during its 100 years.

Small businesses are generally seen as the engine room for growth, but they're also the engine room for jobs.

There's reason to be optimistic about the state's economic recovery in 2021, with a skills shortage looming as a potential challenge.

Western Australian small businesses are far more positive about the future than their eastern counterparts, with new research showing four in five expective revenue growth through to April next year.

West Aussies had a huge boost in purchasing power in the year to June, and the state's economy grew despite a small national drop.

Perth prices rose 1.8 per cent in the September quarter, the sharpest lift since June 2006, after a big fall during the COVID-19 shutdown.