Self-Employed Women More Educated

A study finds women entrepreneurs are more likely than wage earners to have advanced degrees.

Self-employed women tend to have completed a higher level of education than women with wage and salary jobs, according to a new study by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.

Based on more than a decade of Census data, the study shows a strong correlation between self-employment among women and education, as well as work experience and age, researchers said. In 2006, 13 percent of self-employed women had graduate degrees, compared to just 10 percent of wage and salary earners, the study found. The same data showed self-employed women tended to be older and have more occupational skills.

"Human capital factors such as education and experience have long been known to have a positive correlation with entrepreneurship," Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy, said in a statement. "This report delves deeper into women's business ownership and shows that factors such as occupational skills and entrepreneurial preparedness are essential to women's entrepreneurship."