Women are Joining the Entrepreneurial Economy in Chile

A new study from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, a report on Women and Entrepreneurship in Chile – 2005/2006, led by Universidad del Desarrollo, shows that entrepreneurship among women has risen 68% in the last 3 years despite an adverse setting. If this phenomenon continues, women could outnumber men in new enterprises by 2010.
Although Chilean women believe they have less opportunity to become entrepreneurs than men, they have nonetheless forcefully begun to start companies, and the rates of growth are nearly 20% annually, higher even than egalitarian developed countries like Germany or Spain.
This report constitutes the first detailed analysis of female entrepreneurship in Chile. The report is part of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, which is led by Babson College and the London Business School.
Today, it is estimated that there are 513,000 women entrepreneurs in Chile, equal to 33% of all entrepreneurs in the nation. Three years ago the percentage was just 20%.
If the high growth rates persist, by 2010 female entrepreneurs will equal male entrepreneurs and create more than 50% of jobs in new enterprises in the country.
Where women are equal to men is in readiness: 85% say they have the same level of knowledge and skills as men in beginning a business.