What does it mean?
Necessity entrepreneurship describes someone who starts a business because other work is unavailable or not enough. They may have lost a job, found none after graduating, or need extra income. They often start with little capital in a field they already know, such as cooking, tailoring or selling online. Its counterpart is opportunity entrepreneurship, where someone starts by choice because they saw a market need.
How is it measured?
Since its 2019/2020 report, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) asks new entrepreneurs whether they agree they started "to earn a living because jobs are scarce", alongside three other motives. People can agree with more than one, because necessity and opportunity often go together.
Why does it matter?
A necessity founder first needs steady income and simple tools that turn a small activity into a business that can last, before accelerators or investment. Research suggests a necessity business can become a productive company if it finds finance, networks and an environment that allows growth.
In the Syrian context
The article "Opportunity or necessity?" on the site (October 2026) reports that only 7% of those who answered the union's first membership form named money or income as their main motive. Practice tells another story: about 36% of those who stated their work status described themselves as employees, which means a large part of the community holds a job alongside its business or idea, and 76% of project owners in the Observatory sell through social media.
The article concludes that in Syria necessity often does not mean "I could not find a job" but "my job is not enough", which standard measures do not capture easily. For comparison, more than eight in ten new entrepreneurs in Jordan agreed in 2025 that they started to earn a living because jobs are scarce, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.
Example
A public-sector employee in Hama whose salary does not cover her costs starts making handmade accessories in the evenings and selling them through a Facebook page. She keeps her job, and the business is a second income. This is a common form of necessity entrepreneurship.
Common questions
Is necessity entrepreneurship a bad thing?
No. It describes why someone started, not how valuable the business is. Many businesses started out of need have grown into successful companies once they found the right finance and market.
Is necessity entrepreneurship higher in conflict and post-conflict countries?
Yes, according to a study of 91 countries reviewed in "Opportunity or necessity?". Necessity-driven start-up activity in countries in conflict was close to double the rate elsewhere (4.75% against 2.46% of adults).
What does a necessity entrepreneur need to grow?
Evidence points to finance, a bank relationship, networks and access to wider markets, along with practical skills in marketing, sales and management.