The crisis has in many cases affected situations but now a new measurement from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise shows that more Swedes are leaning towards enterprising.
Over the past six months, the number of people in charge of a company increased by over 5,000 individuals which is a large increase. Moreover, the growth rate is more than twice as fast among women compared to men.
- It is gratifying that the number of enterprising women is increasing. It is probably an effect of an increasing number of private individuals allowed into the healthcare, schools and social services, says Tommy Hellström, Head of Confederation of Swedish Enterprise's regional operation.
The enterprise survey is conducted twice a year. In this case, it is individuals and not companies that have been examined. The fact that a person chooses to start more companies does not increase enterprising.
The compilation also shows that the recession has forced more people away from entrepreneurship than in previous measurements. Nearly 37,000 people who were enterprising in the second half of the year 2008 have now left the enterprising spirit. At the same time, 42,000 new people entered, a net increase of 5,000 people. Out of these individuals, 36 percent are women and 38 percent are younger than 35 years old.
The development has varied a lot around the country. While the number of enterprising that have increased by between four and five percent in municipalities such as Övertorneå, Perstorp and Trosa, entrepreneurship in Laxå has decreased by over four percent.
- In many cases, it is most likely the difficulty of getting a job that make people engage in entrepreneurship, says Tommy Hellström.
- To establish in a recession is in a way an advantage when one is well equipped for an upturn in the market. Several of these companies will be successful and generate growth and jobs.
Sweden needs more people that dare to invest in developing their business ideas.
The key to success is to dare to invest in a recession.
Cecilia Helland