Small business employment

This report examines the changing size distribution of firms and, in particular, some implications of the growing importance of smaller firms in the Australian economy. The report is divided into six chapters. The economics of small business labour markets and the policy implications of the report are contained in chapter six. The other chapters provide a detailed analysis of four main areas: (1) aggregate trends in the share of small business in employment between 1983 and 1995; (2) the extent to which changes in employment shares cast light on the job creation of various firm size categories; (3) sectoral analysis of changes in the size distribution of firms, based on employment share data for 14 major sectors from 1983-84 to 1994-95; and (4) relative earnings and job characteristics in small versus large businesses. Supporting data is provided in a series of appendices. Show less