LEADING Gold Coast privately owned companies are predicting a strong 10.33 per cent growth in revenue and an 8.43 per cent increase in jobs growth over the next 12 months. The annual BDO Kendalls survey of the top 400 privately owned firms in Queensland, released last month, shows continued bullish optimism despite widespread concerns over a shortage of skilled labour.

Overall, Queensland's leading privately-owned companies are expecting a massive 11.5 per cent revenue growth for the 2006/2007 financial year, led by the booming resources, health and utilities industries. The Q400 expect almost eight per cent growth in their full time staff over the next 12 months and, not surprisingly, cite the lack of access to quality staff as their biggest barrier to growth.

Only seven per cent of the companies surveyed were pessimistic about their prospects for the year ahead, with 69 per cent 'very optimistic'. BDO partner Rolf Larsen, who collated the Q400 data, says it is encouraging to see business confidence almost on par with 12 months ago. "The State Government has forecast growth for the overall economy at 4.25 per cent so the expectations of the leading privately owned firms are exceptional," Mr Larsen says. "With unemployment at an all time low, training costs and wages pressures are likely to be ongoing issues for growing Queensland companies. "There is a conflict between their growth expectations and the availability of skilled staff and the shortfall is going to be felt over the next 12 months," he says.

The Q400 boast a combined revenue of almost $14.25 billion and employs 42,500 full-time staff across the state, an increase on the previous year of $2.05 billion and 3,545 staff respectively.

Gold Coast-based beef processor and exporter Teys Brothers again tops the Q400, ahead of Golden Circle with Cannon Hill-based meat supplier, Australian Country Choice, one of Queensland's largest family-owned companies, leapfrogging into third place from sixth place last year. Information technology company, BDS Technical Services, made the biggest gain from the previous year, up 40 places to rank 30, while construction group HMP made the best debut at 14. A majority of the companies surveyed (40.75 per cent) have been established for between 10 to 25 years and are first generation family businesses. According to the survey, the manufacturing industry provides the highest level of employment, followed by the retail industry and property and construction industries. Companies are ranked by assessing a range of factors including turnover, full-time staff and assets.