Business is building in health and science

CONSTRUCTION and real estate remain the backbone of the Gold Coast small business economy but emerging health and science sectors are growing.

According to the latest ABS figures, construction makes up 12,804 of the Gold Coast small businesses with between 0-19 employees, while real estate services sit at 10,436.

Across the Glitter Strip as a whole more than 46,245 people own their own businesses. The category of “scientific and technical services” plus “financial and insurance services” follow closely behind as the next largest sectors on the Gold Coast.

It comes as the Griffith University health and knowledge precinct continues to expand, a legacy of the Commonwealth Games.

Growth was also recorded for the number of small businesses in the transport, postal and warehousing industry.

Member for Moncrieff Angie Bell said expanded access to finance was behind the growth.

“Small business owners and their staff make a remarkable contribution to the local economy, in fact they are the largest employer here on the Gold Coast,” Ms Bell said.

“I’m really pleased to see the number of Gold Coast small businesses that are growing in a range of industries.

“Construction is certainly exciting but it’s also great to see that people are setting up small businesses to provide finance, health care, training and great new food services.”

Federal Minister for Employment, Skills and Small Business Michaelia Cash is visiting the Gold Coast today.