An initiative of the United Nations General Assembly, MSME is a day to acknowledge the important and vital contribution by more than 2.3 million small and family businesses in Australia in our economy, society and local communities.

Did you know*?

• small businesses employ over 5 million people, that's 42% of Australia's private sector workforce.
• small businesses employs 63% or almost 288,000 of Australia's apprentices and trainees.
• top five industries with the highest percentage of people employed by small businesses
  • agriculture, forestry and fishing - 82%
  • rental, hiring and real estate - 75%
  • construction - 66%
  • other services - 66%
  • accommodation and food services - 48%.
• small businesses contribute $483 billion to the economy, that's roughly 33%!
• construction is our largest business sector, employing 793,000 people.
• small business employs 42% of Australia's private sector workforce.
• small businesses account for 97% of all Australian businesses.

*statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Industry 2020-2021 and ASBFEO calculations, small businesses defined as those employing 0-19 people.

Click here to visit the United Nations MSME Day webpage.