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Economic Gems: The Main Industries in Perth, Australia
Western Australia is one of the leading forces responsible for Australia’s continued economic growth during the last few years. In fact, Western Australia accounted for 20.7% of the country’s GDP growth in 2023 (Government of Western Australia).
But how exactly is that possible?
A lot of that has to do with the vibrant and robust capital city of Western Australia, Perth. Let’s delve into the top industries responsible for making Perth the economic giant it is today.
What are the main industries in Perth, Australia?
The main industries in Perth, Australia, are mining, scientific and technical services, finance, public administration, healthcare, real estate, construction, and manufacturing.
Let’s dig a bit deeper and see how much these industries contribute to the overall growth of Western Australia’s capital city and why they’re the biggest industries in Perth today.
Mining
Unsurprisingly, mining takes the biggest pie of the cake when it comes to the top industries in Perth. According to Informed Decisions, the mining industry accounted for 29.9% of Perth’s GDP in 2022, which translates to a whopping $23.5 billion!
Several reasons come into play as to why that is the case. One of those is the fact that Western Australia has one of the world’s richest mineral deposits.
In fact, the state holds 30% gold, 20% nickel, 80% tantalum, and 60% rare earth minerals of the world’s reserves (Mindat.org). These minerals are key materials in the manufacturing of components found in most electronics today.
Aside from the minerals themselves, the companies that exploit these resources are also key contributors to Perth’s rapid economic growth. Mining companies like Rio Tinto, BHP, Fortescue, Hatch, and Newmont are headquartered in Perth.
Scientific and Technical Services
As the capital and largest city of Western Australia, Perth has also become the centre for scientific and technical services in the state. In fact, this industry accounts for 16.4% of the city’s economy, which is equal to $12.8 billion (Informed Decisions).
This industry covers a wide range of professions in the white-collar field, including legal services, information technology, research, and consulting.
A key reason why this industry is one of the most prominent ones you’ll find in Perth is thanks to the city’s rapid urbanisation. As Perth continues to grow, it will need more specialists to help support its growing number of companies and residents.
That includes scientists and researchers who develop new technologies to improve Western Australia’s economic efficiency and standard of living. An example of this is Rio Tinto’s automated mining systems and transportation systems
Furthermore, as more companies start to grow in Perth, they’ll need the support of trained IT personnel and consultants to help scale their businesses effectively and ensure their internal networks are running smoothly.
Finance
Since most businesses in Western Australia are conducted in Perth, it’s no surprise that it also hosts most of the state’s financial industry. Per the same report provided by Informed Decisions, Perth’s financial sector accounts for 15.1% of the city’s GDP.
That roughly translates to $11.8 billion. So, why is that the case?
One of the biggest reasons why is probably because of the surging growth in Australia’s fintech sector. After the pandemic, demand for their services grew, as there are now over 850 active fintech companies in the country (Financial Review).
Companies like Afterpay and Zip are starting to become more popular in Perth, hence the need for them to hire more employees in the city.
Another key reason why the finance sector is booming is thanks to the optimistic attitude of Perthites when it comes to Western Australia’s economy. As a result, more startup companies are starting to crop up in Perth (Dealroom.co).
These businesses will require significant investment to operate, including loans and venture capital provided by financial institutions in the city.
Public Administration and Safety
As Perth continues to grow, so too must the bureaucracy that keeps the city running like a well-oiled engine. Coming in at fourth place is public administration and safety, which accounts for 6.7% of Perth’s GDP or $5.2 billion.
This industry includes almost every company and agency managed by the local government of Perth and the state government of Western Australia. Some of those are Main Roads, the Electricity Networks Corporation, and the Housing Authority.
The reason why this industry is rapidly rising is pretty self-explanatory. Due to the rising number of people living in Perth, the government must hire more clerks, police officers, firefighters, and road workers to meet the city’s ever-increasing demand.
An example of this is Main Roads, one of Perth’s biggest public administration companies. According to Dun & Bradstreet, this company earns a revenue of $1.9 billion every year.
They’re the ones responsible for constructing new infrastructure and maintaining existing ones like roads, bridges, walk paths, and bicycle lanes. Their services are crucial in ensuring every suburb in Perth remains accessible to everyone.
Healthcare
It’s also no surprise that the healthcare industry is one of Perth’s most prominent industries. According to the same report by Informed Decisions, Perth’s healthcare sector accounts for 4.7% of the city’s economy, equal to $3.6 billion.
Of course, the main driving force behind why this is the case is Perth’s rapid population growth. As more people move into the city, the number of people who might need access to quality healthcare is also rising.
Another good reason for the rise of the healthcare industry in Perth is the city’s status as the biggest city in the state. That means most of Western Australia’s top hospitals, like the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, are found within the city limits.
These premier medical institutions attract the best and brightest medical professionals in Western Australia, improving the quality of their services. Their improved quality, in turn, further drives up the demand for their services.
Real Estate
As Perth’s population grows, so too has the demand for properties in the city. That’s why the real estate industry is one of the strongest industries in Perth, with a 3.4% contribution to the city’s economy, equal to $2.7 billion.
Thanks to Western Australia’s robust economy during the past few years, more and more people are taking advantage of Perth’s rapid growth and are heavily investing in its real estate.
According to The Guardian, Perth has now become the hottest property market when it comes to capital cities in Australia. In fact, most homes listed for sale in the city are sold within 11 days!
Many of the transactions made in this industry are made by professional real estate agents. If you’re still looking for work, a career in real estate might help you earn money fast.
Construction
Another major industry that has significantly contributed to Perth’s economic growth is construction. Per Informed Decisions’ report, the construction industry has generated $2.6 billion, which is equal to 3.4% of Perth’s GDP.
Similar to the real estate industry, this industry has also risen during the past few years thanks to Perth’s growing population. As more people move into the city, more houses and apartment complexes are built to accommodate them.
Furthermore, many businesses in Perth are also experiencing significant growth thanks to the city’s healthy economy.
These businesses require new commercial spaces, warehouses, and office spaces to be built, further increasing the demand for construction companies and workers in Perth.
Manufacturing
Another key industry worth mentioning is manufacturing. With an output of $1.3 billion, this industry was responsible for 1.8% of Perth’s economy in 2022.
Most of Perth’s manufacturing industry is located on its southern end, in the heavy industrial area of Kwinana. Here, a significant portion of Western Australia’s natural resources are processed before they are shipped off to other countries.
Currently, Kwinana is home to an iron plant, an alumina and nickel processing facility, and a metal fabrication facility. Historically, it was also once the home of Australia’s largest oil refinery, the Kwinana Oil Refinery.
Aside from mineral processing facilities, this place also hosts many food processing companies that produce flour, preserved foods, and fertilisers for Western Australia.