Self-Employed Women

Women make up more than a third of the self-employed, and they launch businesses at double the rate of men. 

In 2004, 5.6% of employed women were self-employed compared with 8% of men. In the last 40 years, the percentage of self-employed women has risen while the percentage of men has slightly fallen.

Many of the occupations we've listed with significant numbers of self-employed also contain large percentages of women.  For example:

Management, professional, and related occupations: 50%

Computer and information systems managers: 31%

Farmers and Ranchers: 25%

Property, real estate, and community association managers: 49%

Artists: 50%

Writers and authors: 55%

Advertising sales agents: 49%