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Indigenous-owned businesses in Australia employ Indigenous staff at a rate 12 times higher than non-Indigenous-owned businesses, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) has found.

According to lead researcher and Ph.D. candidate Christian Eva, the findings demonstrate that non-Indigenous-owned businesses must do more to better integrate Indigenous knowledge and cultural practices into the workplace and boost the number of Indigenous staff.

Eva said non-Indigenous-owned businesses should also acknowledge Indigenous peoples' broader responsibilities within their communities by offering flexible working arrangements and cultural leave entitlements.

"The unique workplace practices of Indigenous businesses may explain their strong Indigenous employment rates. Our paper demonstrates it's more likely workplace practices driving divergent Indigenous employment outcomes, rather than just local labor market conditions," Eva said.

"This disparity is of national importance as Indigenous employment is part of Australia's Closing the Gap framework. However, as with many Closing the Gap outcomes, the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment is failing to close. It's evident we must do more."

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