Companies of Polish women

In Poland, women own 34% of all sole proprietorships. In business, they take risks, overcome barriers, but also feel the effects of inflation.

Data from the CEIDG for the first quarter of 2023 indicate that women run 940 thousand sole proprietorships, while the number of economic activities carried out by men is almost double. To better understand how women do in business, it is worth looking at the detailed data that shows a more complete picture of the challenges that Polish women face when running their own businesses.

For the purposes of the Sukces Pisany Szminką Szminką competition, socijolożki.pl conducted a study (commissioned by the InclusionPlus Foundation), on the basis of which a report was prepared Polish women and entrepreneurship 2024: earnings and inflation. The study was conducted using the CAWI methodology (web interview) using a licensed panel ensuring the representativeness of the sample in terms of gender, age, size of place of residence and region in a sample of Poles aged 16-65 years.

Results of the study

39%, or almost two out of five Polish entrepreneurs, are satisfied with the level of their earnings. The percentage of declarations of satisfaction with earnings among the total respondents is only 28%. Earnings are affected not only by differences in gender, age or place of residence, but also by inflation that has persisted in recent years.

Who is more often satisfied with earnings?

According to the study, satisfaction with earnings appears more often in men (33%) than in women (23%). Satisfaction with earnings is influenced by various factors such as, for example, the size of cities and the age group. More often than not, residents of larger cities are satisfied with their earnings (38% in medium-sized cities) and less often rural residents (23%). As for age: the older the age groups, the lower the satisfaction with the salary. In the 18-24 age group, 52% of respondents express dissatisfaction and in the 45-54 age group 69% of respondents.

How has inflation affected the earnings of women entrepreneurs?

According to data published by the National Bank of Poland, in October 2024, year-on-year inflation, excluding food and energy prices, was 4.1%, which means a decrease compared to 4.3% recorded in September. This phenomenon affects enterprises, affecting the earnings of business owners, managers and other employees. Even if wages remain at a similar level, rising prices make us feel real financial losses.

For 5 years, i.e. since 2019, Poland has been struggling with a higher inflation rate than the NBP inflation target, according to which it should not exceed the level between 1.5% and 3.5%. Recent months have shown that core inflation exceeds the inflation target and even exceeds the assumed margin of error, which signals the current economic problems in the country.

In the Sojolożek.pl survey, 29% of all respondents admitted that inflation affected their earnings, which fell. As for the group of entrepreneurs, the percentage is 48%. For the total surveyed, the monthly average earnings are currently PLN 4,534 net, and for entrepreneurs PLN 6,116 net. As many as 45% of all respondents and 18% of Polish women running their own business declare earnings not exceeding PLN 4,000 net. In turn, the net salary of more than PLN 7,000 reaches only 10% of the total surveyed and one in four entrepreneurs.

In the report Polish women and entrepreneurship 2024: earnings and inflation It was also pointed out that for some of the interlocutors talking about money is a problem; this concerns 36% of Poles, including one in three men and 36% of women. The situation is different for Polish entrepreneurs, for whom this topic is not a reason for shame or dislike - only 27% of them think that such a conversation is embarrassing for them. People for whom running their own business is everyday react differently to conversations around finances - this is usually one of the more important and at the same time more natural things they have to face. Almost half (45%) of business managers surveyed say that negotiating wages at work and talking about money is not a challenge for them.

Izabela Tworzydło, press spokesperson and director of the Corporate Communications Department of BNP Paribas Bank Polska S.A, a partner of the Female Champion of Change category, emphasizes that women entrepreneurs break the current patterns, thanks to openness in conversation, ability to discuss finances and courage in running their own business.

The report shows that discussions about earnings continue to pose a challenge for many Poles, especially for women, who are more likely than men to feel discomfort in such situations. Fortunately, entrepreneurs are increasingly breaking this pattern, standing out for their openness in conversations about finances and thus inspiring other Polish women. We believe that supporting transparent communication in business, companies and promoting DEI policies is the key to creating organizations in which everyone feels entitled to express their needs and values.

The results of the report prepared as part of the 16th edition of the Succès Pisany Lipstick competition arouse mixed emotions. On the one hand, they are full of optimism: almost 40% of women entrepreneurs declare their satisfaction with their earnings, which shows that women are increasingly boldly striving for financial independence. On the other hand, the report Make Existing Existing barriers that make the level of income satisfaction still lower among women than among men.

Supporting Women in Business

Strategies for the development of women's businesses are any type of DEI solutions (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), pro-women organizations and mentoring programs, training. The culture of an organization that works in an egalitarian way encourages women to have an active professional life and the promotion of women in leadership positions inspires others to business initiatives. Building such an environment fosters economic development and an inclusive culture.

Katarzyna Wierzbowska, Co-founder and president of the Women's Entrepreneurship Foundation, initiator of the Women Entrepreneurial Network, in the SWPS podcast Woman in business - about breaking the patriarchal system in management stresses that the need to create such an initiative as the Women's Entrepreneurship Foundation stems from the highly masculinized business world. In her opinion, only singling out a group of women and openly supporting them will help to realize their business goals and interests in this strongly patriarchal area. This way of acting would not exist if it were not for the fundamental inequalities between women and men.

Women are very critical of themselves, underestimate their competence. They are ambitious and therefore it is more difficult for them to start their own business, they think it is complicated, they are afraid of risks. Functioning in isolation, they are convinced that it is their individual defect — says Katarzyna Wierzbowska.

Other organizations supporting women in business in Poland include: Women Tech EU (European Commission programme supporting women innovators in the technology sector, offering coaching, mentoring and funding for women-led startups), Programme 100 Business Women Initiative Business Pulse promoting women's entrepreneurship through rankings, plebiscites and the creation of spaces for the exchange of experience and the acquisition of knowledge; or LiderShe Association (brings together women leaders, offering leadership development programs, mentoring and a platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience. Collaborates with other organizations that promote diversity in business).

summary

Focusing on the role of women in business has a significant impact not only on the economy, but also on culture and society. Their visibility contributes to progress, development and promotion of equality, which has a positive impact on the general condition of the country in which we live.

Sources:

Companies of Polish women

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