BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- About 40 percent of young Chinese entrepreneurs are female, according to a report released recently.

The report was based on a survey of 6,928 entrepreneurs aged 16 to 35 and was jointly published by the China Foundation for Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment, and the Chinese Academy of Labour and Social Security.

Nearly 70 percent of the surveyed entrepreneurs are over 25, the report said, while about 55 percent were college students before starting their businesses.

Under preferential policies, people from all walks of life are becoming entrepreneurs, but college students remain the majority, the report said.

The report also noted that 63 percent of the respondents run service industry businesses.