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Economy

Seattle Boasts More Women Business Owners Than Any Other Large City

Statewide, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii have the highest percentage of women business owners

By Nat Rubio-Licht November 20, 2020

Small business owner smiling while turning the sign for the reopening of the place after the quarantine due to covid-19. Happy businesswoman standing at her restaurant or coffee shop gate with open signboard. Close up of woman"u2019s hands holding sign now we are open support local business.
Small business owner smiling while turning the sign for the reopening of the place after the quarantine due to covid-19. Happy businesswoman standing at her restaurant or coffee shop gate with open signboard. Close up of woman”u2019s hands holding sign now we are open support local business.

The Puget Sound region has a higher percentage of women business owners than any major metro area in the United States.

A report by Self Financial found that women make up 46.2% of business owners in the region, which trumps the national average of 38.4%. Statewide, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii have the highest percentage of women business owners. Self Financial used 2019 U.S. Census data and the 2018 American Community Survey.

The Portland, Oregon, area was No. 2 on the list, with 44.7%, of women business owners. The Austin area was No. 3 at 44.1%.

The report found that the Puget Sound region has more than 87,000 women business owners. The most active industries for women business owners in the region include professional, scientific and management; and administrative and waste management services.

Despite the fact that men still make up the majority of business owners, the percentage of women business owners has risen nationally since 2010, when the average was 35.2%.

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