Women own 27 percent of enterprises in Albania

TIRANA, Sept. 18 – Men continue dominating the Albanian business community despite a slight increase in female-owned and run enterprises. Women-run enterprises have increased by only 4.5 percentage points during the past eight years accounting for slightly more than a quarter of total registered businesses in Albania. Back in 2005 women owned only around 22.9 percent of total businesses. In 2012 they increased their share to 27.4 percent of total active enterprises owning around 29,300 businesses.
Enterprises managed by women in 2012 also rose to 28.8 percent, up from 23.9 percent in 2005.
According to the Labour Ministry, women in Albania are mostly employed in the public health and education sectors and less in private sectors of tourism, manufacturing and trade.
Better access to education and vocational training courses are two of the ministry’s goals to increase women’s participation in the labour market and make them financial contributors in their households.
The Labour Ministry says the economic empowerment of women will directly influence on reducing domestic violence cases, trafficking and other social problems.
Women manage around a quarter of total businesses in Albania, 99 percent of which are SMEs, and make up 45 to 48 percent of employees in the industry and services sectors.