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Government Schools in Australia - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Katherine Tweedie Katherine Tweedie Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: August 2023 ANZSIC P8026

Revenue

$64.3bn

2023-24

$65.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

342k

Businesses

8

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Government Schools in Australia industry analysis

The Government Schools industry has experienced modest revenue growth over the past few years. Ongoing population growth, including an expansion of the population aged between 5 and 18, has fuelled demand for public schools and kept revenue on the rise. Government funding has also been stable for government school; state and territory government funding makes up most funding for public schools, alongside some Federal Government funding. Donations and fundraising activities account for the remainder. Long-term climbs in household discretionary incomes have facilitated more donations from the community; however, the trend has also prompted a shift towards private education. Many parents perceive private schools as being higher-quality than government schools, partly because of marketing efforts to boost their reputation. As incomes have risen, parents have been sending their children to private schools, which has created competitive conditions for government schools. Public schools have also faced staff shortages, as teachers seek work at private schools in order to receive higher salaries. Overall, revenue is expected to climb at an annualised 1.1% to $64.3 billion over the five years through 2022-23. This trend includes a lift of 1.9% anticipated in the current year, due to continued population expansion and a short-term drop in discretionary incomes.Government funding is on track to keep being delivered to government schools in the coming years. For example, in the 2023-24 Victorian Budget, the Victorian Government stated that it aims to provide $40.4 million to help government schools expand their services and engagement with their students. Over the 11 years through 2029, government schools are set to receive $128.8 billion in Federal Government funding, which will prop up industry performance. Despite this maintenance, staff shortages are on track to continue. The Federal Government launched the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan to address national teacher shortages, and it will likely continue to build on this plan to reduce workloads and lower teacher-to-student ratios in classrooms. Industry revenue is projected to climb at an annualised 1.6% to $69.8 billion over the five years through 2027-28, as overall enrolments climb and maintain demand in the face of challenging operating conditions.

Trends and Insights

  • More parents have been sending their children to private schools. Many people perceive private schools as offering a higher quality education, largely because of reputation and marketing efforts.
  • Primary schools are making up a smaller share of revenue. An expanding population has led to larger schools opening, rather than more schools being established.
  • Population distribution is the key determinant of government schools’ location. Urban areas that have more transport infrastructure tend to have more government schools.
  • Government schools compete with one another based on performance and location. Students’ academic results in final-year examinations determine whether parents want to send their children to these schools.
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Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2013-2028
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Industry Overview

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $64.3bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Government funding has been on a steady incline

  • Revenue for the Government Schools industry mainly flows from state and territory government budgets. Schools receive approximately 15% of funding from the Federal Government, and approximately 80% from state and territory governments, and the remainder from voluntary contributions, donations and fundraising.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Government Schools in Australia
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Further funding will generate minor participation growth

  • Government funding is on track to keep expanding, ensuring that more schools open to meet the needs of a growing population.

Biggest companies in the Government Schools in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($short_0)
2023

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Government Schools in Australia industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Government Schools in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Primary school education, Secondary school education and Combined school education. Primary school education is the largest segment of the Government Schools in Australia.

Trends and Insights

More students means larger primary schools and consolidation, dulling primary school education's revenue share

  • Until 2022, primary school education ran from year 1 to year 7 in South Australia, it finishes in year 6 in all other states and territories. As of 2022, all remaining South Australian government schools have fully transitioned to having primary school finish in year 6.
  • More insights available in the full report

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Competitors

  • Preschool Education in Australia
  • Private Schools in Australia

Complementors

  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Australia
  • Art and Non-Vocational Education in Australia

International industries

  • Public Schools in the US
  • Charter Schools in the US
  • School Education in New Zealand
  • Primary Education in the UK
  • General Secondary Education in the UK

View all industries in Australia

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry consists of government-administered schools that provide primary, secondary or combined education. While some government schools charge voluntary fees to families, schools cannot deny access to students if a family is unable to pay the fees.

What's included in this industry?

Primary school educationSecondary school educationCombined school educationSpecial school education

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)RETENTION RATEQUALITY SCHOOLS PACKAGE

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 80 - Government Schools in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

More parents have been sending their children to private schools. Many people perceive private schools as offering a higher quality education, largely because of reputation a...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Primary schools are making up a smaller share of revenue. An expanding population has led to larger schools opening, rather than more schools being established.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Population distribution is the key determinant of government schools’ location. Urban areas that have more transport infrastructure tend to have more government schools.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Government schools compete with one another based on performance and location. Students’ academic results in final-year examinations determine whether parents want to send th...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The Government Schools industry doesn’t have any major players. Governments decide whether a new school should be established, and the industry is highly fragmented.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Government schools tend to be regulated at the state and territory level. That’s why different states and territories have different regulations and funding initiatives.

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    The Government Schools industry has been experiencing notable staff shortages. Teachers have been taking contracts at private schools in order to receive higher salaries, dam...

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
    • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
    • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
    • Average Wage (2013-2028)
    • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
    • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
    • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
    • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2013-2028)
    • IVA (2013-2028)
    • Establishments (2013-2028)
    • Enterprises (2013-2028)
    • Employment (2013-2028)
    • Exports (2013-2028)
    • Imports (2013-2028)
    • Wages (2013-2028)

    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in Australia include:

    • Australian Bureau of Statistics
    • Australian Taxation Office
    • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Government Schools industry in Australia in 2024?

    The market size of the Government Schools industry in Australia is $64.3bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Government Schools in Australia industry in 2023?

    There are 8 businesses in the Government Schools industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2018 and 2023.

    Has the Government Schools industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Government Schools industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.1 % between 2018 and 2023.

    What is the forecast growth of the Government Schools industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Government Schools industry in Australia is expected to grow.

    What does the Government Schools in Australia include?

    Primary school education and Secondary school education are part of the Government Schools industry.

    How competitive is the Government Schools industry in Australia?

    The level of competition is low and increasing in the Government Schools industry in Australia.