Women Business Ownership in America On the Rise

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America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

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Women Business Ownership in America On the Rise

Women-owned firms made up only 19.9% of all firms that employed people in the United States in 2018 but their numbers are growing.

There were 6,861 more women-owned firms in 2018 than in 2017, up 0.6% to 1.1 million, according to the Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey (ABS).

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The ABS provides data on race, ethnicity, sex and veteran status of owners of businesses with one or more paid employees. This information can be invaluable in helping economic development organizations promote growth of minority and women business ownership in their areas.

As the nation recognizes Women’s History Month, this data highlights some of women’s contributions to our economy.

Continue reading to learn more about:

  • Women business growth by sector
  • Characteristics of women business owners
  • Are there more women-owned businesses in some sectors?
  • Sex parity
  • What states have the most women-owned businesses?

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