Did you know? Women now own 40 per cent of small businesses in Australia, a significant increase from around 31 per cent in the early 2000s, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023). Which means when women face challenges, their businesses, and the broader economy, feels the impact too.
Last year, a report by Enterprising ME (an initiative of the Council of Small Business Organisation Australia’s Future Female Entrepreneurs Program) calculated that if the playing field for female entrepreneurs was level with their male counterparts, it would contribute an extra $135 billion to the national economy.
As we prepare to mark International Women’s Day 2025, now is an excellent time to look at some of the issues affecting women in business and what can be done about them.
A Business Scorecard Survey by the City of Cockburn, carried out in May 2023, found the top challenges facing local businesses were rising costs (53%), time management and managing work-life balance (27%), and how to handle sales and marketing (25%). Sales and marketing was of greatest concern to women business owners with up to five staff. Insights from our business engagement team suggest pain points for women continue to be staffing issues, growing market share and balancing roles and responsibilities. Acknowledging this, the City supports key initiatives that provide an inclusive environment where female entrepreneurs can thrive. This includes, the Thrive Program, Curtin Ignition and this year's sponsorship of the Micro Business Level-Up program, Hello Monday.
The City also supports the Cockburn Micro Business Networking Group, which creates equitable conditions for women in microbusinesses. This group fosters a welcoming and informal atmosphere and supports new connections through structured icebreaker activities, roundtable discussions and skills boosting sessions. In recognising that 81 per cent of women business operators are mothers, and many are juggling running their businesses with care duties, the Micro Business Networking Group meets after the school drop-off at 9.30 to 11am.
Microbusinesses might be small, but they employ 2.9 million people across the country and, according to research from the McKell Institute, contribute $265 billion in added value to the Australian economy. The research indicated there was an 'unemployment push' effect towards starting microbusinesses, as women face structural hurdles to finding employment in traditional working roles and “microbusinesses can be seen as offering an opportunity for women to participate in the economy on their own terms and in ways that might not have been open or available to them otherwise”.
For International Women’s Day 2025, the City of Cockburn will host an event for business and professional women in Cockburn and surrounding areas, co-hosted by the Melville Cockburn Chamber of Commerce and EiR (Entrepreneurs in Residence). It includes an inspiring keynote about the late Mary Raine, WA’s first female entrepreneur, energising activities, interactive breakout sessions with expert presenters, dynamic discussion, and a chance to network with other women in business in our community.
Join us on 6 March from 9am to 2pm at the Cockburn Bowling and Recreational Club in Yangebup. Tickets are $25 and spaces are limited. Don’t miss out! Visit the International Women's Day webpage for tickets.
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