15.3 percent of working women are self-employed, study says

Less than 1% of working women (0.8%) in Morocco are heading an enterprise and 15.3% of this population are the owners of the business as well, says a study by a demographic studies center.

The study, entitled "Gender and Development: Socio-demographic and Cultural Aspects of Gender Differences" revealed that although women account for 33% of the working population, they represent only 5% of employers and are mainly active in agriculture, handicrafts and services.

In the rural world, all female employers in the agricultural sectors own their land following a heritage, against 58.3% of men. In handicrafts, all female employers set up their own enterprises.

In cities, all female employers in the sectors of industry and trade have created their own firms.

The study found out that 50.5% of self-employed women are found in handicrafts, 16.2% in the sector of services and trade and 4.6% in industry.