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Engineering Consulting in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Ryan Tan Ryan Tan Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: June 2024 ANZSIC M6923

Revenue

$58.0bn

2024-25

$57.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

175k

Businesses

46,513

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Engineering Consulting in Australia industry analysis

Engineering consulting firms have benefited from greater public sector capital expenditure in recent years. Federal and state governments increasingly outsource major infrastructure projects, bolstering demand and profitability of engineering consulting firms. However, faltering demand from the Construction division has weighed on the industry despite healthy capital expenditure on significant projects. Revenue for the Engineering Consulting industry is expected to climb at an annualised 0.7%, reaching an estimated $58.0 billion in 2023-24. State and local governments have upped investments in infrastructure to stimulate economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting demand for engineering consultants and prompting revenue to rise by 0.5% in the current year.

Trends and Insights

  • Green infrastructure trends are shaping Australia's Engineering Consulting industry. Experts in this field have adapted to increasing demands by investing in sustainable practices, developing new skills and tools, and incorporating circular economy principles to help businesses curb environmental impact.
  • An upsurge in infrastructure projects demands more engineering design consulting services. This boom is driven by a heightened focus on sustainable and efficient design, necessitating expert service in areas like preliminary project research, legal requirements and regulation compliance.
  • The geographic spread of businesses in the Engineering Consulting industry broadly corresponds with Australia's population distribution and economic activity. New South Wales and Victoria house the largest portions of engineering consulting firms.
  • The Engineering Consulting industry has a low market share concentration because of the prevalence of small firms and sole proprietors. This can be attributed to the wide range of specialisation and downstream industries.

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  • 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 grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $58.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Engineering consultants are adapting to green infrastructure and sustainability trends

  • The Australian Engineering Consulting industry has seen a swing towards sustainable and green infrastructure. This trend has been led by climate change concerns and resultant legislation, driving demand for energy-efficient buildings and environmentally friendly infrastructure projects.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Engineering Consulting 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

The upsurge in sustainable infrastructure, especially hydrogen energy, will shape the future of engineering consulting

  • Hydrogen energy, a sustainable fuel solution, is being spotlighted globally and in Australia as a way to reduce emissions in energy-intensive industries and can potentially become an exportable energy commodity. Renewable hydrogen can be used in chemical and fertiliser production, various heavy industries and the transport sector, ensuring a stable, greener grid.

Biggest companies in the Engineering Consulting in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
GHD
1,291.4
Aurecon
1,049.6
Jacobs
886.4

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Engineering Consulting in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Engineering design consulting, Testing and analysis and Process and systems engineering consulting. Engineering design consulting is the largest segment of the Engineering Consulting in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Infrastructure boom is driving the need for engineering design consulting

  • Engineering design consulting services include advice and analysis on infrastructure designs before construction. The study consists of preliminary research on regulations, legal requirements, and the geographic threats and opportunities for major infrastructure developments.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Industry firms provide engineering consulting services, typically related to the design, development and use of infrastructure projects, machinery, processes and systems. Industry firms offer advisory services, feasibility studies, preparation of preliminary and final plans and designs, technical services during project construction phases and inspection and evaluation of construction and engineering projects.

What's included in this industry?

Engineering design consultingTesting and analysisProject management consultingAsset managementProcess and systems engineering consultingEnvironmental consultingProcurement assistance

Companies

GHDAureconJacobs

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

EPCMLIFE CYCLE ASSET MANAGEMENTGEOTECHNICALBIG DATA

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 6923 - Engineering Consulting 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

Green infrastructure trends are shaping Australia's Engineering Consulting industry. Experts in this field have adapted to increasing demands by investing in sustainable prac...

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

An upsurge in infrastructure projects demands more engineering design consulting services. This boom is driven by a heightened focus on sustainable and efficient design, nece...

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

The geographic spread of businesses in the Engineering Consulting industry broadly corresponds with Australia's population distribution and economic activity. New South Wales...

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

The Engineering Consulting industry has a low market share concentration because of the prevalence of small firms and sole proprietors. This can be attributed to the wide ran...

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

The Engineering Consulting industry has no major players and no company has a significant market share. However, some large globalised engineering consulting firms benefit fr...

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 GHD's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Aurecon's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Jacobs's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for GHD, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Aurecon, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Jacobs, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

The requirement for registering professional engineers has expanded beyond Queensland. Victoria and New South Wales implemented such schemes in 2019 and 2021, respectively. T...

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

Technological advancements like artificial intelligence and data analytics are pushing up other costs for engineering consulting firms. These costs include training, maintena...

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 Engineering Consulting industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Engineering Consulting industry in Australia is $58.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Engineering Consulting in Australia industry in 2024?

There are 46,513 businesses in the Engineering Consulting industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Engineering Consulting industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Engineering Consulting industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Engineering Consulting industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Engineering Consulting industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Engineering Consulting market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Engineering Consulting market in Australia are GHD, Aurecon and Jacobs

What does the Engineering Consulting in Australia include?

Engineering design consulting and Testing and analysis are part of the Engineering Consulting industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Engineering Consulting in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is GHD.

How competitive is the Engineering Consulting industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Engineering Consulting industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Construction in Australia
  • Scientific Research Services in Australia
  • Surveying and Mapping Services in Australia
  • Environmental Science Services in Australia

International industries

  • Global Engineering Services
  • Engineering Services in the US
  • Building Inspectors in the US
  • Credit Counselors, Surveyors & Appraisers in the US
  • Engineering Services 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.