Skip to content
Demography & Population Studies

Highlighting the Economic Contributions of Self-Employed Women in California

Contributors

My alt tag
Miriam Torres Sanchez Fellows
My alt tag
Citlali Tejeda Fellows

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, two new data briefs from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI) spotlight the resilience of self-employed women entrepreneurs in California.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA LPPI Research Highlights Economic Contributions of Self-Employed Women in California

LOS ANGELES (March 27, 2025)—As Women’s History Month draws to a close, two new data briefs from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI), spotlight the resilience of self-employed women entrepreneurs in California. Authored by Miriam Torres Sanchez and Citlali Tejeda, these briefs, which are a part of The Economic Recovery & Entrepreneurship Project (TEREP), use Latino Data Hub and IPUMS to explore economic contributions and the disparities self-employed women face.

The first brief, “10 Facts about Self-Employed Latinas in California”, authored by Torres, examines Latina entrepreneurs’ growth and struggles compared to white peers. Some key findings include:

  • Latinas represent more than 1 in 10 (13%) of California’s self-employed workers, compared to 17% for white women. 
  • Disparities: Self-employed Latinas earn $18/hour (vs. $29 for white women), with 13% in poverty and 22% uninsured.
  • Immigrant Impact: Nearly 58% of self-employed Latinas are immigrants, using entrepreneurship to overcome barriers like limited capital access.

“Self-employed Latinas are vital to California’s economy, yet systemic hurdles persist,” said Torres, a policy fellow at LPPI. “From inspiring stories like Angie’s Cheesecakes to stark wage gaps, this brief calls for policies to bolster their resilience.”

The second brief, “12 Facts about Self-Employed Women in California,” authored by Tejeda compares Latina, White, Black, and AAPI, self-employed women, revealing inequities. Some findings include: 

  • Trends: Latinas’ share rose from 27% in 2010 to 33% in 2022; Black women’s fell from 4% to 3%.
  • Gaps: Only 23% of self-employed Latina-owned businesses are incorporated (vs. 31% for self-employed white women and 39% self-employed AAPI women); 36% of self-employed Latinas live in poverty or low-income conditions.
  • Self-employed Latinas (56%) and self-employed Black women (42%) lead in service roles, while self-employed white and AAPI women dominate professional fields.

“Self-employed women are rewriting California’s economic story, yet too many linger in the shadows,” said Tejeda, also a policy fellow. “Women entrepreneurs aren’t mere numbers—they’re trailblazers shaping the state’s economic future. This research paves the path to raise them higher through targeted programs and policies.”

These briefs highlight the need for policies addressing poverty, education gaps, and putting programs in place to to support California’s diverse women entrepreneurs.

Read the “10 Facts about Self-Employed Latinas in California”  brief here.
Read the “12 Facts about Self-Employed Women in California” brief here.

These briefs were made possible by the generous support of the JP Morgan Chase Global Philanthropy, and the James Irvine Foundation. LPPI also gratefully acknowledges the California Latino Legislative Caucus and the support of their Unseen Latinas Initiative.

###

About UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute:

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a non-partisan research institute that seeks to inform, engage, and empower Latinos through innovative research and policy analysis. LPPI aims to promote equitable and inclusive policies that address the needs of the Latino community and advance social justice. latino.ucla.edu.