Drop in self-employed numbers will lead to a ‘brittle workforce’, says IPSE

With self-employed numbers seeing a significant drop, the IPSE is warning that this will lead to a ‘brittle workforce’, just as we go into a recession.

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed believe that these dwindling numbers are ‘almost certainly’ due to the lack of self-employed support for certain groups during the pandemic.

Derek Cribb, CEO of IPSE, commented on the findings, “In the second quarter of 2020, there was a disproportionate and disturbing slump in the number of self-employed in the UK – far more than among employees. This is almost certainly because of the serious gaps in the government support for the self-employed, including directors of limited companies and also the newly self-employed, who are at the most fragile stage of their careers.

He added, “Going into a recession, we would normally expect a jump not a slump in the number of self-employed, as businesses look to the flexible expertise they offer. However, with government policy driving down the number of self-employed, there is a real fear the UK workforce will become brittle and rigid just when it needs to be at its most agile.”

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