Courier boom makes transport Australia's top new trade

New analysis from business services platform Honcho finds transport, postal and warehousing has been Australia's fastest-growing industry over the past decade, driven by a sharp rise in courier and door-to-door delivery firms.

The study draws on Honcho's internal dataset of 440,000 businesses and measures changes in new business registrations over 10 years. Transport, postal and warehousing recorded 268.7% growth, ahead of health care and social assistance, which rose 205.4%.

Several traditional sectors moved in the opposite direction. Manufacturing and wholesale trade both fell 22.5% in the dataset, while information media and telecommunications declined 19.5%. Rental, hiring and real estate services slipped 2.4%, and professional, scientific and technical services fell 1.9%.

Honcho linked the divergence to broader shifts in consumer spending and service delivery, as more activity moves to home delivery and mobile services. It also pointed to competitive pressure in goods-based industries and growing reliance on digital channels.

"This 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. "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," said Miralda Ishkhanian, Honcho's chief operating officer.

Courier surge

Within transport, postal and warehousing, the strongest growth came from postal and courier pick-up and delivery services, which expanded 612.6% over the decade. It was the fastest-growing subsector tracked in the study.

Other transport-related categories also expanded. Transport support services grew 240.6%, while road transport rose 69.4%. The transport support category includes community, assisted and specialised transport, the study said.

Health care and social assistance was the second-fastest-growing major sector in the dataset. Honcho reported growth in medical and other health care services (up 57.1%) and social assistance services (up 418.1%).

Ishkhanian said part of the rise reflects changes in where services are delivered, with more providers travelling to clients rather than relying on fixed sites.

"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," Ishkhanian said.

Patchy growth

Outside the two leading sectors, Honcho's figures show moderate gains in several areas. Agriculture, forestry and fishing rose 95.2%, while administrative and support services increased 45.7%. Arts and recreation services grew 30.4%. Construction rose 28.9%, and education and training was up 17.3%.

Some large sectors showed limited movement. Retail trade grew 4.0% over the period, while financial and insurance services increased 7.6%. Mining and public administration and safety were flat in the dataset, both marked as 0.0% growth.

Honcho also cited Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing a 2.5% year-on-year increase in business registrations. It said its dataset shows a sharper split between expanding and contracting sectors than the national headline suggests.

Local hubs

The analysis also mapped where business registrations were most concentrated by industry. For transport, postal and warehousing, the postcode with the largest share in Honcho's dataset was NSW 2195, covering Lakemba and Wiley Park. Honcho put the share at 25.5% of Australia's total for that sector within its dataset.

Construction showed its highest concentration in NSW 2161 (Guildford) with a 32.27% share. Professional, scientific and technical services were most concentrated in NSW 2088 (Mosman) at 26.58%. Health care and social assistance had its largest concentration in VIC 3280 (Warrnambool) at 20.70%.

Honcho also tracked the fastest-growing locations overall, regardless of industry. NSW 2179, which includes Austral and Leppington, recorded 966.67% growth in the company's data. NSW 2762 (Acacia Gardens, Colebee and Schofields) rose 787.50%, while QLD 4553 (Aroona and Battery Hill) increased 742.86%.

Two Victorian postcodes also featured among the fastest-growing areas. VIC 3217 (Corio) rose 727.27%, while VIC 3978 (Clyde North) increased 677.27%.

Ishkhanian said the pattern reflects development in outer suburban areas, where new housing and commercial activity are expanding at the same time.

"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," Ishkhanian said.