Australia’s economy is increasingly being shaped by personalised delivery and in-home care services, with new data revealing a sharp rise in businesses supporting door-to-door access and at-home health and social care.
The study by online business registration and operations platform, Honcho, analysed internal data from 440,000 businesses to determine how industries are shaping up across Australia.
It found transport, postal and warehousing is now the country’s fastest-growing industry, with business registrations expanding 268.7 per cent over the past 10 years, followed closely by health care and social assistance, which grew 205.4 per cent nationwide.
In contrast, traditional goods-based and intermediary sectors such as manufacturing, wholesale trade, media, and real estate services have recorded sustained declines, reflecting a broader shift toward digital, service-led and on-demand alternatives.
Honcho COO Miralda Ishkhanian says the data underscores a shift in consumer behaviour and social changes in Australia. “Businesses are increasingly built around delivering services directly to people’s homes, whether that’s goods, transport or care,” he says.
“At the same time, traditional in-person and goods-based models are facing new pressures from digital platforms and global competition. It highlights how quickly consumer expectations are evolving and how new Australian businesses are adapting in response.”
Fastest And Slowest Growing Industries
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there has been a 2.5 per cent increase in recent year-on-year business registrations. Honcho’s internal data shows a pronounced split between expanding and contracting sectors, with mining and public administration remaining stagnant.
Transport, postal and warehousing have boomed as a sector over the last decade, according to Honcho’s internal data. The sector saw a 10-year growth of 269 per cent of new business registrations nationally.
Within this category, postal and courier pick-up and delivery services surged 612.6 per cent, highlighting rising demand for personalised, door-to-door delivery across households and workplaces.
Courier and delivery services are joined by other fast-growing transport subsectors, including transport support services, which cover community, assisted and specialised transport, underscoring how mobility and logistics are increasingly aligned with everyday service access.
Businesses operating in health care and social assistance have more than doubled in size over the past 10 years, growing 205 per cent nationally through new business registrations. Growth has been driven by a mix of medical, allied health, social assistance and community-based support services responding to population growth and changing service delivery models.
Ishkhanian says demand for door-to-door services has grown significantly in recent years. “Increased remote work and policy initiatives that support older Australians to remain living at home are driving greater need for services delivered directly to households, including courier services, mobile care providers, and in-home support services,” he adds.
Meanwhile, the combined contraction in manufacturing and wholesale trade exceeds 45 per cent, highlighting sustained pressure on goods-based industries. Other sectors showing declines include information media and telecommunications, professional services, and rental and real estate services, potentially reflecting the growing availability of digital and online alternatives.
“Greater access to global online marketplaces, cheaper imports delivered directly to consumers, and apps replacing in-person services are changing how Australians shop and operate. The data suggests a sustained transition away from traditional goods-based and intermediary industries toward digitally enabled, service-driven models,” Ishkhanian says.
Prominently Established Business Hubs
Honcho’s analysis also examined where new business industry activity is most concentrated geographically.
Construction activity in New South Wales accounted for 32 per cent of the national share in that sector, showing New South Wales commitment to local development and constant improvements to the area.
New South Wales also ranks as the most concentrated hub for professional, scientific and technical services at 27 per cent.
Transport, postal and warehousing is also most concentrated at 25 per cent in this state. Although with Victoria’s Craigieburn showcasing a sharp growth of 1,666 per cent in this industry, the national hub for transport, postal and warehousing services could soon change.
Locations Showing The Most Total Growth
Rounding out the study, the Honcho analysis also examined where the fastest-growing locations are for business activity across the board, regardless of subtype or sector.
Ishkhanian says the strongest growth is emerging in fast-developing suburban corridors where population, infrastructure and commercial activity are expanding simultaneously.
“As families move into new estates, businesses follow to meet demand for everyday services, logistics, care and local support. It highlights how closely business formation mirrors Australia’s evolving residential footprint,” he says.
The full study is available here.