This publication provides information on the incidence and nature of impacts due to COVID-19, as experienced by businesses operating in Australia.
Key statistics
- Almost one third of businesses expect modifications put in place to manage the impacts of COVID-19 will be kept long-term
- Two in five employing businesses currently have staff teleworking
- One in three employing businesses expect staff hours to increase when conditions stabilise
Business Impacts of COVID-19 Survey
Topics covered in this release include:
- Modifications to business operations
- Teleworking and expected changes to working hours
- Business revenue, operating expenses and employment
The collection was conducted through a telephone survey between 10 September and 16 September 2020. The sample size was 2,000 businesses and the final response rate was 64% (1,279 responding businesses).
This release forms part of the suite of additional products that the ABS is producing to measure the impact of COVID-19. Future information collected in this survey will evolve to maintain relevance in a changing environment.
Modifications to business operations
Businesses reported whether they were operating under modified conditions as a result of COVID-19. They also provided information on some of the types of modifications made, and whether these were expected to be retained long term (i.e. for more than 6 months).
Data on modifications to business operations and the types of modifications made was also previously collected in June 2020.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of all businesses reported that they were operating under modified conditions due to COVID-19 in September 2020. This compares to almost three-quarters (73%) of all businesses that were operating under modified conditions in June 2020.
By employment size, the proportion of all businesses that were operating under modified conditions in September 2020 were:
- 64% of small businesses (i.e. 0-19 persons employed)
- 73% of medium businesses (i.e. 20-199 persons employed)
- 78% of large businesses (i.e. 200 or more persons employed)
Businesses in Arts and recreation services were the most likely to be operating under modified conditions (86%) compared with businesses in Electricity, gas, water and waste services (45%) which were the least likely.
Types of modifications made
In September, the most common types of modifications that businesses currently have in place were changes to the way products or services are provided to customers (36%), and changes to staff roles or duties (26%). This compares to 40% and 25% in June.
Almost a third (31%) of all businesses reported they expect at least one modification would remain in place long-term. More than half of businesses in Health care and social assistance (60%) and Accommodation and food services (50%) reported they expect at least one modification would remain in place long-term.
Teleworking and expected changes to working hours
Businesses with employees teleworking
Employing businesses provided an estimate of the proportion of their workforce teleworking:
- prior to COVID-19;
- during September; and
- expected once restrictions are lifted and conditions stabilise.
More than two in five employing businesses (43%) reported that they had staff currently teleworking. This compares to 28% of employing businesses that reported they had employees teleworking prior to COVID-19.
Three in ten employing businesses (29%) expect staff to continue to telework once restrictions are lifted and conditions stabilise.
Large businesses were almost twice as likely as small businesses to currently have any employees teleworking (80% compared to 42%). They were also more likely to currently have 50% or more of their workforce teleworking (31% of large businesses compared with 21% of small businesses).
Expected future changes to staff hours
Businesses reported expected changes to the number of hours worked by staff once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and conditions stabilise.
Three in five employing businesses (60%) reported no expected change in the number of hours worked by staff once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and conditions stabilise. Over a third (34%) expect the number of hours worked by staff to increase.
Employing businesses in Accommodation and food services (58%), Retail trade (44%) and Arts and recreation services (44%) were most likely to report they expect the number of hours worked by staff to increase once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and conditions stabilise.
Business revenue, operating expenses and employment
Businesses reported on changes in revenue, operating expenses and number of employees over the last month and expected changes over the next month. Businesses were asked to provide a best estimate only, without accessing records or reports.
This information was also collected in the July and August surveys. The following graphs show data reported in the July, August and September surveys.
Fewer businesses reported a decrease in revenue in September (38%), compared to August (41%) and July (47%). Three-quarters of businesses (75%) expected their revenue to stay the same or increase in October.
Business impacts of COVID-19 visual summary
Business Impacts of COVID-19 Survey results, September 2020 include modifications to business operations; teleworking and expected changes to working hours and business revenue, operating expenses and employment.
- 64% of businesses are operating with modifications due to COVID-19.
- 31% of businesses expect to keep modifications in place long-term.
- Most common modifications to be kept long-term are: Changes to the way products or services are provided (20%); Changes in staff roles or duties (15%); Changes to types and range of products and services offered (11%).
- 28% of employing businesses had staff teleworking before COVID-19, compared with 43% of employing businesses that have staff teleworking currently.
- Large businesses are twice as likely to have staff teleworking compared to small businesses (80% compared to 42%).
- Once restrictions are lifted and conditions stabilise, 29% of employing businesses expected staff to continue teleworking and 34% expect staff hours to increase.
- Industries most likely to increase staff hours: Accommodation and food services (58%); Retail trade (44%); Arts and recreation services (44%).
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