Personal services industry

Business is growing steadily in the personal services industry, according to the latest survey of establishments that provide services ranging from haircuts and facials to laundry and funeral services.

According to the Annual Survey of Personal Services, firms providing personal services in Canada in 2004 experienced rising revenues in the main components of the industry. Together, those firms earned an estimated $8.6 billion in that year, up from $8.0 billion in 2003 and $7.6 billion in 2002.

Personal care providers, which include hair and esthetic salons, spas and the like, accounted for about 46% of the industry's total earnings. These establishments earned about $3.9 billion in 2004, up from $3.5 billion in 2003 and $3.2 billion in 2002.

Laundry and dry cleaning services accounted for the next largest share of revenues, earning $1.9 billion, and funeral service providers earned the third largest share at $1.5 billion in 2004.

Operating expenses for all personal service establishments increased in 2004. Businesses spent an estimated total of $7.9 billion in their daily operations.

Profit margins were 7.9%, down from 10.7% in 2003.

Salaries, wages and benefits still account for the largest expense for these companies, amounting to almost 41% of their operating expenses.

Industry data for 2004 are available now for Canada and the provinces, including revenues, expenses, salaries and wages and profit margins.

Available on CANSIM: table 359-0001.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2424.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Bob Allan (613-951-2648; bob.allan@statcan.gc.ca) or Joan Farnworth (613-951-6303; fax: 613-951-6696; farnjoa@statcan.gc.ca), Service Industries Division.