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Female entrepreneurs in informal sector fly solo: Story in five graphs
ET Bureau | May 26, 2026 3:57 AM CST

Synopsis

Women-owned informal enterprises, primarily in tobacco and apparel, predominantly operate as own-account businesses. Only a small fraction are hired worker establishments (HWEs), which are crucial for job creation. These female-owned HWEs significantly contribute to employment, with a large majority hiring at least one female worker.

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Women-owned informal enterprises are concentrated in industries such as tobacco, apparel and textiles, according to the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025. Most operate as own-account enterprises without regular employees, indicating a largely self-run structure; only 6% are hired worker establishments (HWEs), which typically have greater scope to scale. Female-owned HWEs remain a key source of job creation, with nearly 72% employing at least one female hired worker.

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