What is the size of the Investigation Industry in Australia

What is the size of the Investigation Industry in Australia

The "investigation industry" in Australia typically refers to the private investigation sector, which encompasses services like surveillance, background checks, fraud detection, and corporate due diligence. This is distinct from public law enforcement or forensic services provided by government agencies. Based on the most reliable and up-to-date industry data, the sector is a niche but growing part of the broader security and risk management ecosystem. Below, we will break down the key metrics for 2025 (the current year as of December 12, 2025), including historical context, growth trends, and segment breakdowns.

Overall Market Size

• Revenue: The private investigation industry in Australia is estimated at approximately AUD 800 million to AUD 1.2 billion in 2025. This figure is derived from the broader Investigation and Security Services industry, which totals AUD 13.9 billion in revenue for the year. Private investigations account for roughly 6-8% of this total, based on service segmentation from industry reports (e.g., IBISWorld and ABS data). This proportion aligns with global benchmarks where investigations represent a smaller slice of security services dominated by guarding and monitoring.
• For context, the full Investigation and Security Services industry has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.6% from 2020 to 2025, reaching AUD 13.9 billion. This includes a projected 4.4% uptick in 2025 alone, driven by rising demand for risk management amid increasing cyber threats and corporate fraud.
• Number of Businesses: There are about 6,727 businesses operating in the broader sector as of 2025, with private investigation firms comprising around 1,000-1,500 specialized entities (e.g., sole traders, small agencies, and larger consultancies). The number of businesses has grown at a CAGR of 1.3% over the past five years.
• Employment: The sector employs approximately 92,285 people in 2025, with private investigations supporting 5,000-7,000 jobs (primarily investigators, analysts, and support staff). This reflects a focus on skilled, licensed professionals.
• Profit Margins: Average industry profit is around 5-7% of revenue, translating to roughly AUD 40-60 million in profits for the investigation subsector, influenced by low overheads for digital and remote services.

Key Segments and Breakdown

The private investigation industry is segmented by service type, with corporate and insurance-related work driving the majority of revenue. Here's a high-level view based on 2025 estimates:

Geographic Distribution: New South Wales (including Greater Western Sydney) accounts for ~35% of national revenue, followed by Victoria (25%) and Queensland (20%). Urban centers drive 70% of activity due to higher business density (e.g., ~100,000 businesses in Greater Western Sydney alone).

Growth Trends and Projections

• Historical Growth: From 2020-2025, the investigation subsector has expanded at a CAGR of 2-3%, outpacing the broader economy due to post-pandemic recovery in legal and insurance sectors. Revenue dipped slightly in 2020-2021 due to lockdowns but rebounded with increased fraud during economic uncertainty.
• Future Outlook (2026-2030): Expected CAGR of 2.5-4%, potentially reaching AUD 1.5 billion by 2030. Drivers include:
• Surging cybercrime (e.g., data breaches up 15% annually).
• Regulatory demands for compliance (e.g., anti-money laundering checks).
• Expansion in professional services, with over 8,500 solicitors in suburban Sydney alone fuelling cross-selling.
• Challenges: High competition from in-house corporate teams and digital tools (e.g., AI background checks) could cap growth. However, recurring revenue from long-term clients (e.g., insurance firms) provides stability.

Data Sources and Methodology

These estimates draw from authoritative sources like IBISWorld (primary for industry revenue and segmentation) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which tracks private sector activity in public order and safety services (including investigations). ABS data for 2023-24 shows an 11.7% increase ($1.6 billion) in sales for related private regulatory services, underscoring momentum into 2025. Global benchmarks (e.g., from Fact.MR and Cognitive Market Research) were adjusted for Australia's market ( ~2-3% of global private investigation revenue, estimated at USD 21 billion in 2025).

For more granular data, such as regional breakdowns or specific subsector forecasts, I recommend consulting full IBISWorld reports or ABS datasets. If you'd like details on related sectors (e.g., debt collection or risk services), let me know!