Women Business Owners in Atlantic Canada:A Comparative Analysis 2012-2019

Prior to this study, there were only two major studies that existed specific to women business owners (WBOs) in Atlantic Canada. The first study, in 2003 by the Calhoun Group, was titled Portrait of Women Business Owners in Atlantic Canada. The second study in 2012 by Findlay-Thomson and Blotnicky, titled Pan-Atlantic Needs Assessment of Women-Owned Growth Orientation Business; Exporting, Supplier Diversity, Global Supply Chains and the Use of Technology, expanded upon the areas of data collection from the 2003 study and provided timely information. This 2019 research study is the most comprehensive to date and while it provides a comparative analysis between 2003 and 2019, the emphasis of the analysis is placed on the more relevant data between 2012 and 2019. The updated information allows for an understanding of the status of WBOs in Atlantic Canada and the directional trends of the key criteria of both studies. New to this study was a review of WBOs who identified as members of other under-represented groups (Indigenous People, visible minorities, LGBTQ2, persons with a disability) as well as an expanded focus on innovation activity.

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