Entrepreneurship is a perennially popular concept, but do individuals consider it an attainable one? It depends whom you ask, according to the 2016 Amway Global Entrepreneurship Report.
Amway surveyed more than 50,000 individuals in 45 countries to produce its seventh annual report, a collaboration between the direct sales powerhouse and the Technical University of Munich, Germany. The survey gauges attitudes toward entrepreneurship, which remain decidedly positive, with 77 percent responding favorably to the prospect of starting a business. Independence from an employer (50 percent) and self-fulfillment (47 percent) were cited as the most appealing reasons to do so.
“Today’s work environment is different from years ago with more people wanting to work independently and find greater fulfillment in life—especially today’s millennial generation,” said Doug DeVos, Amway President and Chairman of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations. “AGER tells us these trends are growing but are affected by gender and education levels.”
Indeed, while responses were positive on the whole, individuals without a university degree (74 percent) were less enthusiastic about entrepreneurship than those with a degree (84 percent). This education gap extends to specific aspects of starting a business as well. For example, university graduates (60 percent) are more comfortable with the prospect of acquiring customers than non-graduates (55 percent).
The Amway Global Entrepreneurship Report also identified disparate attitudes between men and women on the subject of entrepreneurship. When polled, 48 percent of men said they could imagine starting a business, compared to 38 percent of women. Similarly, 52 percent of women and 60 percent of men expressed confidence in their ability to acquire customers.
These responses point to untapped economic potential, DeVos said in the company’s release. “We think it’s important to have dialog about how to close these gaps and create more entrepreneurial equality and accessibility around the world, especially considering that entrepreneurship is known to drive economies and create jobs.”
