Insights into Australia's social enterprise sector
The social enterprise sector in Australia is bigger, bolder and more resilient than you think. Trade is the impact engine and here's the proof.
Explore Social Traders most comprehensive report of the sector yet, Social Enterprise: Powered by trade and driven by purpose. We track five years of real data across social enterprises in Australia - uncovering what resilience looks like, how impact scales and why trade is at the heart of it all.
Brunswick Industries
"Social enterprises are powered by trade and driven by purpose. They prove that trade and impact are not competing priorities — they can be two sides of the same coin."
Tara Anderson, CEO, Social Traders
Wallara
The sector at a glance
There are an estimated 12,000 social enterprises in Australia. Social Traders has identified 6,367 of these and holds deep, validated data on 767 through our national certification program. Of these 767:
- 84% generate revenue from trade
- 22% are completely trade-funded
- 60% make a profit
The impact of certified social enterprises
For our 767 certified social enterprises, we collect detailed impact data. Together, each year they deliver:
16 million hours
of paid employment for people otherwise shut out of work
14,800
employment pathway outcomes
986,000 hours
of employability skills training
$238 million
in community goods and services
$37.6 million
in donations to charitable organisations
505,000 tonnes
of waste diverted from landfill
The Lift Project
The big picture
When this data is applied to the estimated 12,000 social enterprises across Australia:
$0 billion
spent every year delivering impact
0
jobs for people facing barriers to work
Trade is the impact engine. Here's the proof.
Our 2025 report tracked 100 certified social enterprises over five years and spoke directly with eight social enterprise leaders. Four findings stood out:
- Social enterprise trade revenue grew by 10% over five years
- 71% of social enterprises that grew their trade revenue also grew their spending on impact.
- Social enterprises fund their impact in different ways — 36% fully through trade, 41% blended, 23% through non-trade revenue
- Scale supports resilience — but there's no single model for success
The foundations of social enterprise resilience
Scale that sustains balance
Resilient social enterprises tend to be larger, but the evidence shows that resilience isn't only about being big. It's about being the right size to sustain trade, impact and profitability together.
Diversification
Resilient social enterprises diversify their products, services and customers. This cushions against market shocks, creates flexibility and opens new avenues for impact.
A clear impact link
Every sale directly delivers social or environmental value. This clarity builds credibility, motivates staff and attracts loyal customers — turning purpose into competitive advantage.
Go deeper into the data
The Social Traders sector report, Social Enterprise: Powered by trade and driven by purpose, is the most comprehensive picture of the social enterprise sector in Australia. It includes case studies, recommendations for policymakers and funders, and the full methodology behind the findings.