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Advertising Agencies in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matilda Reilly Matilda Reilly Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: October 2024 ANZSIC M6941

Revenue

$3.7bn

2024-25

$3.7bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

19,480

Businesses

9,232

Wages

$X.Xbn

Advertising Agencies in Australia industry analysis

The Advertising Agencies industry provides advertising services to clients across all types of media. The industry has been volatile in recent years, spurred by shrinking print and broadcast media demand and a challenging operating environment. Demand for advertising agency services slumped in response to negative business confidence and economic uncertainty, prompting many downstream businesses to tighten their marketing budgets. Advertising agencies are struggling despite clients spending more on online and digital advertising and a growing focus on customised online advertising based on user characteristics and website preferences and use. Intense price-based competition and mounting wage and purchase costs are subduing growth in profit margins. Overall, revenue is projected to inch downwards at an annualised 1.0% over the five years through 2024-25, to $3.7 billion. This includes an anticipated 0.5% hike in 2024-25, as a recovery in internet publishing and broadcasting and a hike in business profit support demand for advertising services. 

Trends and Insights

  • The transition to digital advertising is underpinning growth opportunities for advertising agencies. Digital advertising services are surging at the expense of traditional print and broadcast advertising services.
  • The Advertising Agencies industry’s two traditional services are advertising campaigns through broadcasting and print media. However, online advertising and internet campaigns are now more popular than these advertising methods.
  • Advertising agencies are primarily located in major cities. This is because advertising firms tend to be located near decision-makers in their target markets and nearby business activity centres.
  • Competition for advertising agencies is on the rise. Agencies compete based on price, reputation, branding, and creativity, on top of the threat of client businesses bringing advertising services in-house.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.7bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Advertising agencies have faced several challenges in recent years

  • Negative business confidence and a drop in household consumption expenditure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic hindered demand as many clients reduced their marketing budgets. This led to a drop in advertising agencies’ revenue over the two years through 2020-21.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Advertising Agencies in Australia
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Growth opportunities will be plentiful for advertising agencies over the coming years

  • Improving business confidence and growth in total business profit in the next few years are forecast to fuel advertising agencies’ expansion and demand for advertising services.

Biggest companies in the Advertising Agencies in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Omnicom Media
359.3
Multi Market Services Australia
307.0
WPP AUNZ
293.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Advertising Agencies in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Print advertising campaigns, Broadcast advertising campaigns and Online and mobile advertising campaigns. Print advertising campaigns is the largest segment of the Advertising Agencies in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Growing digital media use has bolstered online and mobile advertising campaigns

  • Online and mobile advertising campaigns mainly use below-the-line advertising methods. Agencies offer customised website, smartphone and tablet advertising campaigns, website and interactive application development and marketing tools like search engine optimisation.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry companies provide clients with advertising services, such as creating advertising campaigns and materials. Industry revenue relates to the revenue received from developing and producing advertising campaigns rather than revenue from client billings.

What's included in this industry?

Online and mobile advertising campaignsBroadcast advertising campaignsPrint advertising campaignsBillboard advertising campaignsCinema advertisingAerial advertising services Sample distribution services

Companies

Omnicom MediaMulti Market Services AustraliaWPP AUNZ

Purchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BELOW-THE-LINE ADVERTISINGABOVE-THE-LINE ADVERTISINGMASS MEDIATHROUGH-THE-LINESPAMSMS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 6940 - Advertising Agencies in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The transition to digital advertising is underpinning growth opportunities for advertising agencies. Digital advertising services are surging at the expense of traditional pr...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The Advertising Agencies industry’s two traditional services are advertising campaigns through broadcasting and print media. However, online advertising and internet campaign...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Advertising agencies are primarily located in major cities. This is because advertising firms tend to be located near decision-makers in their target markets and nearby busin...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Competition for advertising agencies is on the rise. Agencies compete based on price, reputation, branding, and creativity, on top of the threat of client businesses bringing...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Larger advertising agencies are in a better position than smaller firms to service major clients. Major clients tend to require extensive advertising campaigns that smaller a...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Omnicom Media's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Multi Market Services Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of WPP AUNZ's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Omnicom Media, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Multi Market Services Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for WPP AUNZ, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Advertising agencies receive some assistance through the Australian Communications and Media Authority and various industry associations. For example, industry associations l...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wage costs are the largest expense for advertising agencies. Advertising firms need employees with advanced skills and expertise in creative development, research, customer s...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia is $3.7bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Advertising Agencies in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 9,232 businesses in the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 1.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Advertising Agencies market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Advertising Agencies market in Australia are Omnicom Media, Multi Market Services Australia and WPP AUNZ

What does the Advertising Agencies in Australia include?

Online and mobile advertising campaigns and Broadcast advertising campaigns are part of the Advertising Agencies industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Advertising Agencies in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Omnicom Media.

How competitive is the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Advertising Agencies industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Media Buying Agencies in Australia
  • Public Relations Services in Australia

Complementors

  • Newspaper Publishing in Australia
  • Magazine and Directory Publishing in Australia
  • Radio Broadcasting in Australia
  • Free-to-Air Television Broadcasting in Australia

International industries

  • Global Advertising Agencies
  • Advertising Agencies in the US
  • Direct Mail Advertising in the US
  • Digital Advertising Agencies in the US
  • Advertising Agencies in Canada

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.