Motives for self-employment among people with disabilities in a Swedish context

Abstract

People with disabilities are more often excluded from working life than others; one way of promoting inclusion in the labor market is self-employment. The aim of this article is to add to the knowledge about the establishment motives for starting one’s own business among people with disabilities and reduced working capacity in Sweden. Data were collected from 16 people with disabilities across Sweden. Ten semi-structured interviews with self-employed people with disabilities and one group interview with six blind and visually impaired people were conducted. Themes of establishment motives were identified through thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: flexibility and self-determination; economic motives; negative work experience; contributing something; and being an entrepreneur. Results are related to the concepts of entrepreneurial ecosystem, necessity and opportunity, and identity positions as an entrepreneur. The motives for self-employment have not previously been studied to any great extent in the Swedish context. This article is a contribution to this internationally emerging field of research. For professionals and policymakers, the study highlights the need not only to focus on the individual perspective but also to support and to develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem simultaneously.