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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

Self-employment numbers continue to soar

ONS figures published today (Wednesday 20 January) report the number of self-employed has risen by 98,000 in the three months leading up to November 2015, compared to the same period in 2014.

IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed, welcomes this significant increase and record high in the number of people who work for themselves.

Commenting on the figures, IPSE Economic Policy Adviser, Lorence Nye said: “Today’s labour market figures again show more and more people are realising the benefits of self-employment and opting to become their own boss.

“Freelancing is no longer limited to certain professions or specific age groups. They are an established part of the labour market, with workers in every sector and from every demographic. We’ve seen much of the rapid growth over the past decade come from older workers who continue their careers past retirement age, with the second largest contribution coming from those under thirty. This broad growth is also reflected across all professions.

“The self-employed are now a key part of the UK economy. Their flexibility provides us with a unique characteristic that has powered the UK through the financial crisis and may be the one thing that shelters the country from the potential global economic storm appearing on the horizon.

“We hope the Government will continue to implement tailored policies to help this essential sector flourish to allow for the UK to retain its competitive edge.”