[update][4] Since the introduction of its self-government status in 1989, and with few exceptions in 1992, 1996, and 2014, the ACT economy has exhibited positive growth at a 1991-2018 average of 3.17 percent per year.

[1] A vast majority of the economy is concentrated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, and is composed primarily (about 75%) by service industries, particularly those related to the administration of federal and local government.

Construction also contributes to an important part of the economy, boosted by large government-funded projects and an active residential market.

In contrast to other Australian states and territories, primary sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and mining, represent a very small proportion of the economy (±1%).

[7] As of March 2019[update], the ACT exhibits the lowest unemployment rate at 3.6 percent, with almost a third of workers being employed in the public sector.

[10][11] Fiscal policy since 2012 has been expansionary, with gradual reductions in payroll tax rates and stamp duties (specially those related to SMS businesses and other small commercial properties).

[1][6] As of June 2017[update], approximately 51.7% of ACT real GSP is composed by government expenditure and public gross fixed capital formation, 38.2% by household consumption (which figure includes transfer payments), 11.1% by private gross fixed capital formation (i.e. private investment), and negative 1% by net exports.

[10] In terms of industry of occupation, over 30% are employed in public service jobs (including defence and safety), followed by health care and social assistance (10.4%) and education and training (9.6%).

For the same year period, falls in the price of Furnishings, household equipment and services, as well as communications, detracted the rate of inflation by a total 0.2 percentage points.

[10] As at November 2018, the ACT holds the highest average weekly ordinary earnings (AWOTE) amongst all Australian jurisdictions at A$1,811 (in comparison to A$1,606 nationally).

[21] Number of dwelling unit commencements in Q4 2018 was 1,290, well above the 651 figure from a year before, ranking the ACT above all Australian jurisdictions by this measure.

[27] Cattle and calves, wool, sheep and lambs are the main components of agriculture activity, jointly accounting for 60% of total production of the 36 farms in operation as of 2016-17.

[27] As of 2017-18, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and manufacturing accounted for a 1.1% total (A$428 million) of ACT gross state product.

[3] Due to the large dependency on its public sectors, the ACT economy is volatile to changes in government spending, with the biggest economic contributions and detractions in final state growth coming from it.

[30][29] In 2014, large-scale cuts in public service jobs, in conjunction with low levels of household consumption, reduced economic stimulus in subsequent years.

[32] Semi-universal health services access in Australia, in conjunction with an ageing population and technological advancements, has increased the volume of activity in this sector.

Although health services in the ACT are small in comparison to other states and territories, government spending in this industry between 2007 and 2012 averaged a 10.3% grow per year (and 4.1% from 2012 to 2017).

[5] Gross valued added by professional scientific and technical services in the ACT amounted to A$3.5 billion in 2017-18, or 8.7% of GSP,[6] and contributed to the employment of 22,214 persons in 2016.

[7] ACT goods exports in 2017-18 have been conformed by coin, raw materials and fishery (A$21 million value), with Switzerland being the main destination.

Small businesses and investment have also been stimulated since June 2017 by the introduction of a stamp-duty relief on commercial properties whose maximum value is A$1.5 million.