New University of Phoenix Study Finds That U.S. Adults Do Not Consider Themselves Entrepreneurial

PHOENIX, Sept. 27, 2017 – Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of U.S. adults do not consider themselves entrepreneurial, according to a new University of Phoenix® survey. However, many say they display qualities that would be regarded as entrepreneurial, such as problem-solving (62 percent), self-motivation (59 percent) and creativity (52 percent).

Forty percent of U.S. adults said they would pursue higher education to become more entrepreneurial in their career, but when asked what they do most often when it comes to improving their career, only 12 percent share new ideas at their place of employment with management. In fact, the survey found that 42 percent of employees have never suggested or introduced innovative solutions or products at their current workplace.

“The innovative mindset of entrepreneurs not only benefits those looking to launch their own business, but it can also help existing companies grow by encouraging employees to act as “intrapreneurs” in their own organization,” said Dennis Bonilla, executive dean, University of Phoenix, College of Information Systems and Technology and  School of Business.  “The best intrapreneurs engage their internal team members and resources in uncovering opportunities, solving problems across their organization and driving innovative solutions in areas beyond their job responsibilities.”

Despite many U.S. adults self-identifying with qualities like problem-solving, self-motivation and creativity, two-thirds (66 percent) say they encounter barriers to being entrepreneurial in their current place of employment. Some of the biggest barriers include a lack of time and resources to innovate beyond their job scope (25 percent), their organization is slow to adapt or change (24 percent) and employees are not encouraged to step outside of their scope of responsibilities (24 percent). Less than half (49 percent) of employees feel empowered to address organizational challenges, and even fewer (43 percent) say they work in an environment in which risk-taking and failure are accepted.

“The pace and change of the current business climate call for employers to implement strategies that are disruptive, nimble and encourage a culture of innovation that effectively supports employees with intrapreneurial ambitions,” said Bonilla. “When properly executed and embraced by the entire organization, employers can derive tremendous benefit from employees with entrepreneurial ambitions, while retaining current top performers and attracting new trailblazers.”

Methodology

A national sample of 2,201 U.S. adults completed this online survey, conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of University of Phoenix School of Business, from July 13-15, 2017. The margin of error for the full sample is plus or minus two percent. For complete survey methodology, please contact Melany.Stroupe@phoenix.edu.

About University of Phoenix® School of Business

University of Phoenix School of Business is a contemporary business school with the curriculum, faculty structure and ability to scale that reflect market needs. The School is committed to educating business leaders and leverages employer advisory boards in diverse sectors to help align curriculum with current business dynamics. Students are taught by faculty members who are often driving critical business decisions in their organizations, including hundreds in the C-suite. The School offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, as well as non-degree programs, including certificates, individual courses and non-credit professional development. Doctoral programs are available through the School for Advanced Studies. To learn more about University of Phoenix School of Business programs, visit phoenix.edu/business.

About University of Phoenix®

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc., University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.