21. Nov 2022
The new Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2021/2022 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report showed that startup rates for women dropped by 15% from 2019 to 2020, and held constant in 2021. Women also experienced sharper declines than men in their intentions to start a business within three years and overall startup rates in 2020, but not in upper-middle income countries.
These report findings are based on a trend analysis of women’s entrepreneurship across 50 countries and shed light on the actions policymakers can take to support female entrepreneurs. The report highlights the gender composition of startups, pandemic impacts on male and female entrepreneurs and structural and environmental inequalities that need to be addressed on a policy level. Authored by nine GEM National Team researchers from eight countries, the report is based on data collected from the GEM Adult Population Survey (APS) and the GEM National Expert Survey (NES) in 2021.
“GEM is the only global research source that collects data on entrepreneurship directly from the source – entrepreneurs,” said GEM Executive Director Aileen Ionescu-Somers. "Applying a well-informed gender lens to the evidence points policymakers and program leaders toward more effective tailor-made solutions to address the barriers to business startup and growth for women entrepreneurs.”
“Women represent two out of every five early-stage entrepreneurs,” added Amanda Elam, lead author of the report and a research fellow at the Diana International Research Institute at Babson College, a founding organization and global sponsor of GEM. “Entrepreneurship is a part of the economy where women are continuing to take an active role. It’s important for educators, leaders and policymakers to understand the drivers of gender differences in this critical market activity.”
Other key findings from the report include:
The report provides guidance for policymakers and program leaders that will help address the barriers to business startup and growth for women entrepreneurs:
In addition to GEM global sponsor Babson College, the research is also made possible thanks to report sponsors Cartier Women’s Initiative, the School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR) and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi).