State of the Nation 2021 Report Now Available

State of the Nation 2021

Over 2,000 Capricorn Members told us what they really think about the automotive industry. Find out what they said and how your business compares.

If you’ve ever wondered how your turnover compares to workshops of a similar size, or whether other businesses are struggling with the same challenges you are, Capricorn’s State of the Nation2021 report is your opportunity to find out.

It’s filled with data, graphs, charts, information and advice, to not only show you how your business measures up, but to help you meet challenges and identify opportunities to grow.

More than 2,000 Members across Australia and New Zealand responded to our 2021 survey, ensuring this second State of the Nation report provides an incredibly useful snapshot of the industry, across all workshop types, throughout both countries.

Let’s start with a breakdown of how our industry looks, according to the survey findings.

SON Region and Age

The average respondent was male, aged 49 and speaks English as the primary language at home. Threequarters of respondents were Australian and a quarter were from New Zealand.

Of those who responded, 88% ran independent workshops, 72% ran mechanical workshops and 70% were the sole decisionmakers in their businesses.

SON Business Type

How big are these workshops?

Across Australia and NZ, the average number of employees is 4.5 and the average number of hoists is 3.2 – up from 2.9 in 2020. Australian workshops see an average of 30.8 vehicles a week, eclipsed by New Zealand (where mandatory warrant inspections may boost the numbers) on 41.8 vehicles per week.

SON Hoists

Capricorn’s State of the Nation 2021 report is now live on CapHub.

Download the full report by clicking here.

Stay tuned on CapHub for a range of bite sized business tips and workshop hacks based on the findings of the State of the Nation 2021 report.


  • 2020 Rising Stars Winner Gabrielle Clift

    Gab Clift on her life since winning the 2020 Capricorn Rising Stars award

    “My career has been extraordinarily busy, fun and exciting,” she said. “I was asked to be a mentor for women in the industry through the MTAQ and I also did work experience with Triple Eight Race Engineering, the Red Bull Ampol Racing V8 Supercars team. They were so happy with me that they've actually...

  • A sleek Ferrari F80 supercar displayed prominently, showcasing its aerodynamic design and vibrant red color.

    Future Ride: Ferrari F80

    The iconic Italian carmaker, which this year releases the F80 to celebrate its 80th birthday, has strong links to Sicily, the location of Capricorn Convention 2026.

This article was published 23/07/2021 and the content is current as at the date of publication.