Self-employed boom powered by female contractors

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics have shown a record high of people working for themselves.

There are now 4.97 million self-employed people in the UK, with this rise being driven by women choosing to become their own boss.

The number of female self-employed workers rose by 51,000 in the last quarter.

With self-employment continuing to grow, the IPSE is now calling on the government to improve its support to the sector.

Responding to this these figures, Andy Chamberlain, Deputy Director of Policy at the IPSE, commented, “This rise in self-employment is great news for the UK economy and underlines how attractive this way of working is for millions of people. Access to freelancers is a key driver of innovation and productivity for business so we must do everything we can to help them flourish.

“I’m not surprised that this boom is being powered by female freelancers. Our research shows that the freedom and flexibility of being their own boss really works for highly-skilled women who want to take control of their working lives. The Government must urgently consider the needs of this growing group and take action to improve pensions, simplify the tax system and bring in fair parental rights.”

To find out more about contracting please contact Amelia on 01442 795 100 or email amelia.bowlez@contractorumbrella.com.