Women's Participation and Scaling Success Vary Widely By Industry

WEI's recent examination of Census data shows that women’s business ownership is growing, but not evenly across industries, and those patterns reveal both strengths and missed opportunities. Women are especially well represented in health care, social assistance, real estate, and other service sectors, while they are also building a presence in manufacturing, logistics, construction, and tech-related fields, often first as solo operators and then, more slowly, as employer firms. The biggest opportunity lies in helping more women founders make the leap from solo businesses to scaled companies, especially in sectors where they already have a foothold and where stronger support could unlock meaningful economic growth for communities and investors alike.

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