The number of self-employed women in Dundee has risen in the past two years, sparking some concern.
The number of women going it alone in their own enterprises has jumped from 1,500 in January to December 2010 to 1,900 over the same 12-month period in 2012, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.
Over the same period the total number of self-employed men in the city has declined from 3,600 to 2,600.
East End councillor Lesley Brennan, who works as an economist, said far from being a sign of growing enterprise, the figures could point to the need for more full-time employment opportunities.
The rise in female self-employment has been coupled with a decline in the number of women in employment in Dundee from 34,100 to 32,300.
Ms Brennan said: “In the current economic climate this rise in female self-employment is more likely to reflect the weak state of the economy, rather than a revival in the spirit of enterprise.
“This would mean that secure work is being replaced by fragmented work, irregular hours and lower pay. It would mean the loss of advantages that employees have such as pensions, sickness pay and paid holidays.
“For all that, good luck to those who are setting out on a new business venture. For the others who would prefer to go back to working as an employee, we need a jobs resurgence for the city.
“The type of new jobs is important as well. Full-time jobs are the city’s best option to maintain living standards and to help the local economy recover.”
However, Edith Adam, chairwoman of the Women Ahead network, said the growing number of women striking out on their own could only be a good thing.
“I think it’s positive,” she said. “The fact that more and more women are starting their own business is fantastic. Dundee has a history of the women driving the economy rather than the men.
“It’s also good that more and more businesses are sustainable now they are not lasting just a year but in their second or fifth year they’re still here.”
Ms Adam said she thought measuring the economy by the number of employees was not relevant because of the number of businesses that sub-contract, rather than employing full-time employees.
“A business may be employing fewer employees but subcontract more people,” she said.
“Why would I need to employ certain people when my need isn’t constant? I don’t think having more women creating their own business is a reflection of a bad economy I think it’s quite the opposite.
“Women might not necessarily look for the same achievements as a man. It’s much more about quality of life and work-life balance rather than just chasing a profit.”