Canadian entrepreneurship dreams up, growth lags

Entrepreneurial ambition in Canada is rising to levels not seen since before the pandemic. According to the 2025 RBC Small Business Poll, 59% of Canadians say they aspire to own a business — the highest share since 2017.

The findings suggest Canadians are not only dreaming of entrepreneurship but see it as a realistic path forward. Eight in 10 respondents (81%) said small business ownership is a viable way to earn a living. The results also show resilience among current entrepreneurs, with six in 10 saying they have pivoted their strategies in the past year to keep up with shifting economic conditions.

But while the RBC poll highlights a growth in entrepreneurial aspirations, official labour force data shows only a fraction are currently self-employed.

According to Statistics Canada, as of March 2025, about 2.7 million Canadians were self-employed, representing 13.1% of all employed workers. This is slightly below the pre-pandemic average of 14.9%.

And among those who are self-employed, roughly 1.9 million are “own-account” workers — entrepreneurs running businesses without employees — which equals about 9.4% of the workforce.

“Small business owners have faced many hurdles in recent years – from the pandemic to supply chain disruptions and now shifting tariffs,” Karen Svendsen, RBC Senior Director Small Business and Partnerships, said in a statement. “They continue to pivot, adapt, and find new ways to serve Canadians in meaningful ways.”

Despite those various challenges, the appetite for small business remains high across the country. The RBC poll found:

• Ontario: 68% of residents aspire to own a business, the highest in Canada

• Atlantic Canada: 62% report entrepreneurial ambition

• Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba: 60% in each province are driven to chart their own professional path forward

• Quebec: 45%, the lowest level among provinces

This geographic split highlights regional differences in both optimism and perceived opportunity. Ontario’s strong showing aligns with broader trends in business formation, while Quebec’s lower numbers reflect a more cautious outlook.