NON-AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP OF RURAL WOMEN AS A FACTOR ELIMINATING SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES AND INFLUENCING RURAL AREA DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

On the basis of unpublished data from GUS (Central Statistical Office), in the years 2014-2016, as well as a review of literature, an analysis of the socio-economic situation of rural women, who make a living by running own non-agricultural businesses, was conducted. Income stemming from various sources of earnings was compared with reference to the situation on the labour market. Rural women were characterized on the basis of various types of self-employment undertaken, underlining the major role of such forms of labour in levelling out opportunities and the development of rural areas. Their average age was 45 and the number of people in the family 3.8. Only 2.4% of female entrepreneurs were from single-person households. Types of non-agricultural entrepreneurship were presented, where trade prevailed and 25.9% of entrepreneurs also employed other employees. By applying the coefficient of variation, many differences in the household income of female entrepreneurs were noted.