Export Economy

In reply to Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (24 November 2020). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. S.J.R. PATTERSON (Morphett—Member of the Executive Council, Minister for Trade and Investment): I have been advised the following:

1. No official estimate of jobs related to exports of goods and services is published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), but the latest available Department for Trade and Investment estimate based on available ABS data (2019-20) was that our exports of goods and services supported 74,220 jobs (measured in full-time equivalents).

2. While the full effects of COVID-19 are not yet available, over the year to 2019-20 employment attributed to total overseas exports fell by 3,769 (down 4.8 per cent) on estimates for the previous year.

3. ABS data for 2018-19, the latest available, shows South Australia had 2,909 businesses that exported merchandise in that year. It does not report services exporters. This was an increase of 288 businesses (up 11 per cent) over the year—the highest rate of increase across Australia.