Brazil has more than 10.3 million women entrepreneurs and more than half are responsible for supporting their homes

The number of women entrepreneurs has grown in Brazil. In 2022, they represented 34.4% of the total number of entrepreneurs, surpassing the mark of 10.3 million women business owners , according to the Female Entrepreneurship 2022 survey, carried out by Sebrae. 

In 2021, there were 9.9 million women entrepreneurs. In 2020, the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, they totaled 8.6 million , with a drop of 1.5 million compared to 2019. 

When analyzing the research in detail, it is possible to notice that the responsibility attributed to these women goes beyond business. Research shows that 51% of women entrepreneurs are responsible for supporting their homes . When the research began, in 2016, this percentage was 41%. 

In a country where 48% of households are headed by women who aim to ensure the subsistence of families, male entrepreneurs have an average income 16% higher than female entrepreneurs. 

Furthermore, they have invested in educational training. Sebrae research shows that 28% of women entrepreneurs have higher education . Among men this number is 17%. 

The impact of women entrepreneurs in their regions 

In addition to the challenges and difficulties of being a female entrepreneur, they play a fundamental role in generating employment and income in Brazil . This is because, even though they are part of a smaller percentage (13%), almost 1.4 million women hired people to work in their companies in 2022. 

Furthermore, they have great potential to contribute to the local development of their regions. This is shown by the Travessia Barcarena Project , led by Synergia Socioambiental, which helped around 120 women from the Barcarena region, in Pará, generate income by making facial protection masks during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The project allowed them to work from home, respecting distancing and, mainly, allowing them to improve their sewing skills to generate income and better living conditions. Furthermore, the masks produced were distributed free of charge to the vulnerable population. 

To progress the project, these women received sewing tips, an entrepreneurship course , digital training, management tools training, among other training. 

For Miriam Armelin, project manager at Synergia, the project boosted and showed how much women are capable of producing and undertaking: “The projects, when they reach the reality in which they are inserted, become a surprise, they demonstrate more awareness of their capacity and the power they have . This is very important, because it changes the essence and perception of society, because it’s not just ‘I’m going to produce and earn, but I’m going to change the way relationships are in my home’ ”.