WA SMALL businesses, especially those with more than 20 employees, are leading in the number of Australian firms showing a profit, according to latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Australian Business Longitudinal Survey.
WA firms also lead in the use of computers by small businesses. They are more bullish about their future, exceeding the national average of firms expecting to significantly increase production or introduce new goods and services.
In addition, WA women lead the management of small businesses.
However, WA has the lowest proportion of firms contracting out parts of their operations.
The Australian Business Longitudinal Survey was started in 1994-95 to get a feel for the development of small businesses in Australia.
The ABS’ Clem Tozer said the survey was weighted towards small to medium sized enterprises, innovators, exporters and growing firms.
The survey will cease at the end of the 1998-99 financial year because the Federal Office of Small Business has withdrawn its funding.
Mr Tozer said the ABS was now trying to match the survey data to Australian Tax Office data to get a better picture of the business situation.