Why Jewish Entrepreneurship Is So Common - and So Misunderstood

Spend enough time in any Jewish community in the UK and you’ll start to notice something: a lot of us run our own businesses. From freelance creatives and therapists to accountants, shop owners, consultants, and everything in between - self-employment is woven into the fabric of Jewish life.

But while it’s familiar to us, it’s often misunderstood by others. Some see it through the lens of tired stereotypes. Others assume it’s just a coincidence. The truth is, it’s neither. There are deep historical reasons why Jewish people have gravitated towards business ownership - and a lot of strength and resilience behind that choice.

Why Are So Many Jews Self-Employed?

It’s not just tradition. It’s necessity - and legacy.

For centuries, Jews across Europe were excluded from land ownership, universities, and most professions. And so we adapted - not because we had endless opportunities, but because we weren’t given any. Our great-grandparents started market stalls when they couldn’t get hired. Our grandparents opened shops when they were blocked from professions. Our parents went freelance because they needed flexibility for family or faith. That mindset - of creating your own path when the existing one is closed - runs deep.

What the Numbers Show

While Jewish people make up just 0.5% of the UK population and only 0.2% of the global population, we are much more likely to be self-employed or work in professional roles than other groups. The 2021 UK Census found that 17% of Jewish people are self-employed, compared to a national average of 11%. That equates to nearly 50,000 Jewish business owners across the UK - a significant community with unique needs and strengths.

It’s Not About Power - It’s About Survival

There’s a persistent and dangerous myth that Jewish people dominate business or hold disproportionate global power. You’ve probably heard the conspiracy theories: that Jews “run the world,” control banks, pull the strings behind the scenes. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Most Jewish business owners are not millionaires. We’re sole traders. Shopkeepers. Startup founders juggling childcare. We’re grafting like anyone else - sometimes harder, because we carry more risk, more responsibility, and more fear of being misunderstood or misrepresented. We’re not here because we always had an advantage. We’re here because we built from the ground up - and because for many of us, working for ourselves felt safer than relying on systems that have sometimes been inherently unsafe for us.

Historically, Jewish people didn’t choose to go into business or work independently as part of some master plan; rather, it was often the only viable option. Many faced barriers to employment due to discrimination, and our own families can tell stories of the challenges our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents faced.

In a time when a Jewish surname alone could make it impossible to find employment, the only way for many Jews to earn a living was to become self-employed. Jewish business ownership didn’t emerge from privilege or power - it arose from necessity. Forced to find ways to support themselves and their families, our ancestors became entrepreneurs, creating opportunities where others had closed doors. My own grandfathers both changed their surnames to English-sounding names because their existing surnames - Goldstein and Isaacs - were barriers to employment.

This Legacy Deserves Respect - and Support

Jewish entrepreneurship isn’t just a statistic. It's certainly not proof of conspiracy theories about Jewish power.

It’s a story of perseverance. Of families passing down trade, resourcefulness, and the belief that when you can’t find a seat at the table, you bring your own. It’s also a community effort. We’ve always relied on word of mouth, on cousin’s cousins, on buying from “someone we know.” It’s how we’ve kept each other afloat. That’s something to be proud of - and something we’re still doing today.

Le’karev Jewish Business Network honours that legacy and provides a safe space where Jewish professionals and business owners can connect and thrive - proudly, without having to hide who we are. Le’karev is built on connection. Trust. A shared sense that our success is bound up in each other’s. When we support another Jewish business, we’re not just making a transaction - we’re honouring a history.