In this report, we explore trends in self-employment among parents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that for mothers of young children in particular, self-employment has increased at a notable rate over pre-pandemic levels. As entrepreneurs who are mothers face unique challenges, including intertwined financial considerations, caregiving responsibilities, and time demands, these findings highlight the need for policies, programs and practices aimed at better supporting entrepreneurs who are parenting.

This brief reviews research exploring the links between mental health and entrepreneurship. It begins by discussing the different ways that mental health issues can influence the decision to start a business and, in turn, how entrepreneurship can impact an individual’s mental health. Next it highlights different estimates of the prevalence of mental health disorders among the self-employed. It then provides examples of existing models and programs that have emerged in recent years to support the mental health of entrepreneurs and concludes with a discussion of the implications for policy, programs, and practice.

In this brief, we examine the concept of portable benefits systems and consider the ways these systems can support entrepreneurship. We review the small-scale federal, state, and local portable benefits policies and programs that currently exist, and we discuss research and thinking on these established programs, the possibilities for larger programs in the future, and the changes that will be necessary to support these broader programs.

The Kauffman Foundation continues to recognize, with urgency, the significance of the role new and existing businesses play in local, regional, and the national economy. This report continues our series of sharing the state of capital access for entrepreneurs highlighting the need for innovative products and models to improve capital delivery systems.

Between 2014 and 2019, the number of women-owned businesses grew by 21%, far outpacing the rate of growth in the number of businesses overall (just 9%). This impressive growth was even more pronounced among businesses owned by women of color, with the number of women of color owned businesses growing at double the rate (43%), and, specifically, the number of African American/Black women-owned businesses increasing by 50%.

As COVID upended domestic life, women's rate of self-employment rose faster than the share of men in the sector.

This report highlights three key insights that may help inform more equitable design of future relief and recovery policy and programs for small and new businesses, particularly those owned by BIPOC and women entrepreneurs, as well as entrepreneurs in historically under-resourced communities.

At the start of the pandemic, self-employment rose for both women and men, who have a higher overall self-employment rate, according to an analysis of government data by Jessica Milli, an economist in Washington. But for men, self-employment has since returned to pre-pandemic levels, Milli found. Among women, it remained nine percent higher in February 2022 than two years prior.