Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in European Union
European Union: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 7.9% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in European Union, 1991–2016
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
Analysis
In 2016, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in European Union stood at 7.9%.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in European Union peaked at 9.5% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2003.
European Union ranks 22nd of 25 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9.5% | — |
| 1992 | 8.3% | -12.6% |
| 1993 | 8.4% | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 8.5% | +0.8% |
| 1995 | 8.7% | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 8.3% | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 8.2% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 8.0% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 7.8% | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | -3.5% |
| 2001 | 7.5% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 7.4% | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 7.7% | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 7.8% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 7.8% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 7.7% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 7.6% | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 7.7% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 7.9% | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 7.9% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 8.0% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 8.0% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 7.9% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.4% | 7.8% | 9.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 7.6% | 7.3% | 7.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 8.0% | 7 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More gender data for European Union
- Labor force, female 102.81 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.2279 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate -0.0884 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 25.72 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, female 0.0972 per 1,000 uninfected female population ages 15-49 (2023)
- Incidence of HIV, ages 15-49, male 0.1636 per 1,000 uninfected male population ages 15-49 (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 98.3% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 17.2 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 16.43 years (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in European Union?
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in European Union was 7.9% in 2016, according to International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
- What is the highest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 9.5% in 1991.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2003.
- How does European Union rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
- European Union ranks 22nd out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017, published as part of Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Own-account workers are workers who, working on their own account or with one or more more partners, hold the types of jobs defined as "self-employment jobs" and have not engaged on a continuous basis any employees to work for them. Own account workers are a subcategory of "self-employed".