For many Canadians, the choice to become self-employed has less to do with entrepreneurial ambition than with the circumstances of their household.

In my recent study tracking Canadians through marriage, divorce, childbirth and widowhood, I found that major family transitions can make self-employment feel either more feasible or entirely out of reach, depending on who in the household absorbs caregiving and who anchors the income.

Self-employment is a significant feature of Canada’s labour market. Statistics Canada reported 2.7 million self-employed workers in March 2025, representing 13.1 per cent of all workers. They can include independent contractors, tradespeople, consultants and freelancers — a diverse group spanning nearly every sector of the economy.

But career decisions rarely happen in isolation. They are shaped by caregiving pressures. Balancing work and child care has also become increasingly difficult for many households.

Although Canada provides parental leave protections and has expanded child-care support in recent years, a 2025 Statistics Canada survey found that half of parents using child care said they had difficulty finding it.

Self-employment, in particular, is closely intertwined with these household constraints: caregiving demands, income uncertainty and the gaps in social protection that employed workers may take for granted.

How family changes reshape work choices

Major family transitions can reshape income roles, caregiving demands and a household’s capacity to absorb financial risk. Marriage, childbirth, divorce and widowhood can each alter who earns,........

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