Statistics Canada has been looking at business start-ups and women. It has found that less than one-fifth of start-ups are majority owned by women. As well, majority, women owned start-ups have lower survival rates and lower labour productivity. But, in industries with a higher concentration of women owned start-ups, the women owned operations have higher survival rates and labour productivity than majority, men owned ones.

From 2005 to 2013, women owned start-ups comprised roughly 30 per cent in educational services; health care and social assistance; and in arts, entertainment, and recreation. Lower percentages of ownership are in industries like mining and oil and gas extraction, construction, and transportation and warehousing.

The study authors say the results highlight the importance of identifying industry-specific barriers that may still remain for women owned start-ups.