New record figure for the Catalan ecosystem: more than 430,000 people, between 18 and 64 years old, are involved in entrepreneurial activities of a company in its initial phase (less than 3.5 years of activity). This is concluded by the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report, a project in which more than fifty countries participate and, therefore, allows comparing and X-raying the state of the major world economies.
In Catalonia, this study is jointly prepared by the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the Institut Metròpoli, in collaboration with the Barcelona Provincial Council and the Generalitat. As the Minister of Economy and Labor, Miquel Sàmper, already advanced to The New Barcelona Post, the entrepreneurial activity rate (TEA) registered in Catalonia is the highest since records began in 2004, reaching 8.6%. In the city of Barcelona, this figure is even higher, and reaches 9%, although it remains below the city of Madrid (9.1%).
For the Secretary of Business and Competitiveness of the Generalitat and CEO of Acció, this figure reflects that the Catalan economy is "Europeanizing", and achieves percentages similar to the European average, which has an entrepreneurial activity rate of 8.8%. In fact, Catalonia is already well above the Spanish average (7.2%).
Likewise, the intention to undertake among the Catalan population also grows: 15.4% of the population expresses the will to start their own work project in the next three years (a figure two points above the percentage of just one year ago). A figure that grows even more in the province of Barcelona, where this desire for self-employment climbs to 16.7% (2 points above the previous study).
However, for the promoters of the report, what is remarkable is not only the percentage, but the X-ray it draws. Thus, the Catalan entrepreneurial ecosystem is "more consolidated" and "shows signs of prosperity", according to UAB professor Carlos Guallarte, head of the study. An ecosystem in which fewer and fewer people choose to undertake out of necessity and lack of job offers (only 31%), as happens in developing countries where many people choose to set up small businesses to try to survive. In contrast, the vast majority undertake because they see a market opportunity.
"The data indicates that the entrepreneurial ecosystem is robust. In an economy that has reached a historical record of growth (3.6%) and maximum employment levels, it is significant that more than two-thirds of people who decide to start a project do so for profitability and not out of necessity," Baró stated.
Likewise, in Catalonia, consolidated businesses (over 42 months old) are also proliferating, and 7.6% lead companies of this type, well above the European average (6.1%). The number of entrepreneurs who expect their business to scale rapidly is also increasing, and the percentage of people planning to generate at least five jobs in the next five years goes from 9% to 17% in just one year.
The rate, however, does not only encompass those profiles who decide to found a start-up ---which currently exceed 2,300 companies in Catalonia--- or technology-based companies, but most of the entrepreneurs detected provide services to the consumer sector or other companies. That is, the percentage also reflects those who decide to found a small business, such as a bar, and those professionals who decide to work independently.
In fact, the majority profile of potential entrepreneurs depicts a 41-year-old person who, mostly, has a degree or postgraduate studies (more than 62%). However, the report also highlights a persistent gender gap, since although more women than men show willingness and interest in entrepreneurship, the female rate is still lower (7.5%) than the male rate (9.8%). In Barcelona, the female TEA is slightly higher (7.8%) but is still well below the male (10.1%).