抄録
This study explores the socioeconomic factors of women entrepreneurs in Malaysia’s formal and informal sectors. As entrepreneurship is increasingly regarded as a key driver for economic growth, innovation, and social progress, it becomes essential to understand Malaysian women’s entrepreneurial intents and behaviours. The lower labour force participation rate among women, compared to men, is influenced by various factors, such as the early exit of many women from the workforce due to domestic responsibilities. This study explores the socioeconomic dynamics shaping women’s entrepreneurial intentions through an in-depth analysis of survey data gathered from 535 women entrepreneurs across Malaysia’s formal and informal sectors in the first half of 2024. It highlights women entrepreneurs’ outlooks on the anticipated economic climate, business opportunities, and financial conditions in Malaysia. The findings contribute to understanding women’s entrepreneurship and offer recommendations for policymakers to address systemic barriers and promote entrepreneurship for economic empowerment. Recognising the socioeconomic impact of shaping women’s entrepreneurship is pivotal for creating effective government policies, formulating better regulations, and fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. This study identifies the socioeconomic impact shaping women’s entrepreneurial intentions in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5), which focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
