Business Services


Business services represents more than 80% of the State's economy. NSW is home to:

  • 65% of the foreign-owned global and Asia Pacific regional operations located in Australia
  • 81% of Asia Pacific finance and insurance regional operations in Australia
  • 76% of all ICT regional operations in Australia
  • 80% of multinational pharmaceutical companies in Australia
  • 66% of the US regional operations in Australia, 64% of those from the UK and 84% of those from Japan.



Business services is the largest industry in NSW, contributing A$40.8 billion to the economy and representing 15% of industry income. The industry is also the largest in Australia, with NSW contributing 40% of the national total.

Business services are a major source of employment in NSW. In 2005-06, the industry employed 414,000 people, with the largest sectors being legal and accounting services (86,000), computer services (57,000), marketing and business management services (55,000), and property services (52,000).

NSW has enjoyed considerable export success from business services, with industry growth of more than 30% in the past five years. NSW exported $3.4 billion of business services in 2005, representing two thirds of the national total. The largest contributor was computer and information services.

Sydney is an ideal location for business services as it offers a skilled, multilingual workforce, competitive costs, stable business environment, excellent infrastructure and a time zone spanning the US and European markets.

For more information

Investment Division | +61 2 9338 6641 | Email: investment@business.nsw.gov.au