| |
Research – Reports and Statistics
Reports
Statistics
Best Practices for Women Entrepreneurs in Canada
A 2004 report released by the Foundation of Canadian Women Entrepreneurs, in partnership with the Business Development Bank of Canada. Coverage of successful initiatives from the public, private, non-profit and academic sectors that have been used to support the growth of women entrepreneurs. It also documents recent changes and trends related to women-owned businesses.
Cost: Free
Contact: 416-462-1714
Email: kartini@sympatico.ca
Report of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Women Entrepreneurs
A comprehensive report released in October 2003 by a Task Force created at the request of the Prime Minister in November 2002 that examined the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and advised the Prime Minister on how the federal government can advance the contribution of women entrepreneurs to the Canadian economy.
Download a copy:Canada Prime Ministers Task Force Report
Women in Canada 2005
Every five years, Statistics Canada publishes this report on the changing roles, status and lifestyles of women across Canada.
Contact: Statistics Canada 1-800-267-6677
Email: infostats@statcan.ca
Services to Global Markets: A Profile of Canadian Women Who Export Services
A report by the Foundation of Canadian Women Entrepreneurs, based on the first national research of Canadian women service exporters, supported in part by RBC Royal Bank.
Cost: Free
Email: aglever@rogers.com
Beyond Borders: Canadian Businesswomen in International Trade
A report by the Trade Research Coalition, with RBC Royal Bank as the principal sponsor, which documented the first in-depth research on Canadian women exporters, completed in 1999.
Cost: Free.
Contact: International Trade Canada Publications
1-800-267-8376
Email: engserv@international.gc.ca
Statistics
General¹
- Women entrepreneurs are one of the fastest growing segments of the Canadian economy and represent a growing economic force.
- Between 1991 and 2001, women's self-employment expanded by 43%.
- There are more than 821,000 women entrepreneurs in Canada, who annually contribute in excess of $18 billion to Canada's economy.
- 4 out of 5 businesses are started by women.
- 47% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) in Canada have at least one female owner.
- Women hold majority ownership in 18% of firms in Canada.
- Over 2.6 million people were employed by businesses with at least one woman owner in 2001.
- The average age of woman business owners is 45. Almost 80% are married and over half have children.
- One in 10 women in Canada is self-employed. In 2004, 29% of self-employed women ran an incorporated business, while 68% ran unincorporated businesses.
- At least two-thirds of self-employed women start their own businesses, while one-third buy existing companies.
- Over 80% of Canadian SMEs owned by women are service industries, compared with 59% owned by men.
- The number of women business owners in manufacturing, construction, transportation and communications is growing rapidly.
- Women are responsible for 83% of all consumer purchasing and make 95% of all household financial decisions.
- In 2002, 24% of female tax-filers contributed to an RRSP, up from less than 20% in 1990 and 10% in 1982.
- By 2004, 65% of all women with children under three were employed, more than double the figure in 1976.
- In 2004, 73% of Canadian women with children under 16 living at home were employed, up from 39% in 1976.
- In 2003, over 4.5 million Canadian women - 35% of the total female population - did unpaid work for a volunteer organization.
Trade¹
- 6.9% of women-owned businesses are exporters.
- Canadian women are selling their products and services all over the world. Women-owned firms are doing business with Canada's most important trading partners. The U.S. is the dominant market where 74% of women exporters are making sales. Sixty percent of women exporters report activity in Asia and 58% sell in Europe.
- Active women exporters generate close to 40% of their sales in foreign markets.
- Women exporters set aggressive growth targets, expecting to increase both total sales and export sales by more than 50% in the next two years.
- Active women exporters have an average 15 years of industry experience. Over 70% have a college or university degree. Close to 30% speak more than one language.
- Thirty percent of women exporters began to export at business start-up and 55% made their first foreign sale within two years of launching the business.
Online¹
- Two out of three women in Canada use the Internet.
- 57% of women business owners make purchases online.
- 90% of women Internet users are online at least every other day.
- The majority of women spend their Internet time gathering information and communicating via e-mail.
¹ Sources: Going Global, Women Entrepreneurs in International Markets, CanadExport Supplement, International Trade Canada, September 2005; The Prime Minister's Task Force Report on Women Entrepreneurs, October 2003; Services to Global Markets: A Profile of Women Who Export Services, Foundation of Canadian Women Entrepreneurs, April 2000; Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship Special Edition, March 7, 2006; Key Small Business Statistics, Industry Canada, January 2005; Women in Canada: a Gender-based Statistical Report, 5th Edition, Statistics Canada, March 2006; Beyond Borders - Canadian Businesswomen in International Trade, Trade Research Coalition, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, 1999; Current Analysis: Canada needs more growth-oriented small businesses, RBC Financial Group; GenderMark International; and Sequentia Communications.
|
|
