Report highlights changing business trends across Greater Hobart
Business Greater Hobart is sharing a report by Spectrum Analysis Australia examining changes in business numbers and estimated employment across six Greater Hobart catchments between 2011 and 2025.
Prepared for Edwards Property, the report draws on Australian Bureau of Statistics business data to compare Hobart with Brighton, Cambridge, Glenorchy and Moonah, Kingston, and Rosny Park.
While registered business numbers increased in all six catchments, growth in the Hobart catchment was substantially slower than in surrounding centres. The report also identifies a shift towards smaller and non-employing businesses, alongside a decline in larger employers.
Key findings for the Hobart catchment include:
- Registered business numbers increased by 7.5%, compared with 36.2% across the other five catchments combined.
- Retail business numbers fell by 24.6%.
- Financial and insurance services businesses declined by 47.1%.
- Businesses employing between 20 and 199 people fell from 302 to 202, a decline of approximately one-third.
- The report’s central scenario estimates a 31.2% decline in employment supported by employing businesses.
The employment figures are modelled estimates based on business size categories, rather than direct counts of jobs. They exclude working owners of non-employing businesses. The geographic catchments also extend beyond individual CBD boundaries.
For Business Greater Hobart, the findings reinforce the importance of understanding the changing needs of local businesses and creating conditions that support investment, employment and thriving commercial centres across our region.
We encourage members, business owners and decision-makers to read the full report, including its methodology and limitations, alongside the accompanying Edwards Property media release.
Download the documents