Women entrepreneurs in Colombia and Mexico confront informal, precarious conditions

In Colombia, the latest Urban Economic Census shows women own a slight majority of urban micro‑businesses (51.6%). However, most operate informally: 54.3% run from their homes, 88.9% lack commercial registration and 86.1% have not used formal financial services in the past year, limiting growth and time for training or client outreach.

In Mexico, the Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad (IMCO) ranks Yucatán fourth nationally for promoting women’s economic participation and job quality. The state has improved education and safety indicators, but informal employment among women remains high at 62.7%, placing Yucatán 22nd out of 32 on labor permanence. Both reports highlight persistent structural barriers despite progress in ownership and policy support.