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Starting a new business in Canada: A report from the Survey on Employment and Skills

Entrepreneurship is essential for economic growth, innovation, and job creation. In Canada, most private sector employment is in small and medium-sized enterprises, and many Canadians are self-employed. As of 2023, self-employed individuals represent 13.2% of Canada’s labour force, ranging from precarious gig workers to highly paid specialists. Women represent a large portion of this population.

This study provides insights into Canada’s entrepreneurial landscape, highlighting regional differences, demographic disparities, and motivations for self-employment. Understanding these variations can help tailor initiatives to support entrepreneurship more effectively and foster an inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem that drives economic growth and innovation.

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Key Insights

Ontario had the highest entrepreneurial intent (47%), followed by Alberta and British Columbia (44% each). The Atlantic region and Saskatchewan had the lowest entrepreneurial aspirations (30%).

Younger Canadians showed higher entrepreneurial intentions, peaking at 56.5% in the 18-20 year age range and decreasing with age. Indigenous respondents had higher entrepreneurial intentions (62%) than non-Indigenous counterparts (39%).

The primary motivation for self-employment among those who are not currently self-employed was the desire for autonomy and control (53%). Other motivations included pursuing unique opportunities (42%), achieving work-life balance (39%), and effectively delivering professional services (26%).

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