Professional Services

Service industries are the largest and fastest growing component of the South Australian economy. 

With an employment growth rate of 14.2% over the past five years, the service sector now accounts for more than 70% of employment and nearly 60% of the State’s output.

The diversity of the sector enables South Australian businesses to leverage off an existing strong manufacturing base to both increase product exports and services exports in their own right.

Companies operating in South Australia’s professional services sector offer world-class technical, business and professional expertise.  Business activities include:

• scientific research
• technical services - e.g. architectural, consulting and engineering
• design services
• accountancy and legal services
• computer services
• marketing and business management services
• business process outsourcing
• employment services.

Overview
With its booming mining, defence and environmental sectors, South Australia offers excellent business and investment opportunities for companies providing professional services to local and international markets.

Opportunities exist for investors to enter joint ventures with successful South Australian companies seeking national and international expansion.

Output
• $6.6 billion in professional services income in 2002-03.

Exports
• $1.7 billion traded services exports in 2005 06, up 19% from 2004 05, the highest growth rate of all states. (See table 1 below)
• $76 million in other business and professional services exports in 2005-06.

 
Table 1 Source: ABS International Trade in Services Cat. No. 5368.0.55.005

Employment
• 67,600 people employed in 2006-07.

Workforce Information Service

Research and development
South Australia’s Professional Services industry spent more than $97 million on research and development in 2004-05

Geographic focus
Firms in the professional services sector are concentrated in Adelaide and in South Australia’s regional centres.

Case studies
BioBin
RADlogic
vivoPharm 

Industry groups
Industry groups participating in the services sector in South Australia are represented by, but not limited to, the following organisations:  
Association of Consulting Architects Australia
Association of Consulting Engineers Australia
Australian Computer Society
Australian Institute of Management
Australian Marketing Institute
Business SA
CPA Australia
Engineering Employers Association South Australia
Institute for Charted Accountants in Australia
Law Society of South Australia
Australian Services Roundtable
Council for International Trade and Commerce
Design Institute of Australia
Institute of Management Consultants

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