Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in North America
North America: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 5.4% in 2016. ▼ Falling
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in North America, 1991–2016
Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
Analysis
In 2016, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in North America stood at 5.4%. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.
The figure is down 1.6% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in North America peaked at 6.8% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 5.4%, in 2016.
North America ranks 25th 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 North America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 6.2% | — |
| 1992 | 5.8% | -5.6% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 6.8% | +14.4% |
| 1995 | 6.7% | -1.4% |
| 1996 | 6.7% | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 6.7% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 6.5% | -3.2% |
| 1999 | 6.3% | -3.3% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 6.2% | -2.1% |
| 2002 | 6.1% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 6.1% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 6.1% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 6.0% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 6.0% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 5.9% | -1.6% |
| 2008 | 5.7% | -3.6% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 5.8% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 5.6% | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 5.5% | -1.6% |
| 2016 | 5.4% | -1.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.4% | 5.8% | 6.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 6.0% | 5.7% | 6.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.8% | 7 |
Countries ranked near North America
More gender data for North America
- Labor force, female 90.56 million (2025)
- Labor force, female, per capita 0.2361 units per person (2025)
- Labor force, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Labor force, female, annual growth rate 0.4331 % change on previous year (2025)
- Labor force, female, per square kilometre 4.96 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Ratio of female to male youth unemployment rate (% ages 15-24) 83.8% (2025)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, female 16.95 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, male 15.76 years (2019)
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions 43.9% (2025)
- Women of reproductive age 86.08 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in North America?
- Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in North America was 5.4% 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 North America?
- The highest recorded value was 6.8% in 1994.
- What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.4% in 2016.
- How does North America rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
- North America ranks 25th out of 25 groups with data for 2016.
- Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North America 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".