RISE OF THE FREELANCE ECONOMY

Source: Labour Force Survey, ONS/IPSE 2015

FREELANCERS AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL UK FREELANCE WORKFORCE BREAKDOWN

01 WORKFORCE, SELECTED OCCUPATIONS BY LOCATION*
% freelance Total freelance
ARTISTIC, LITERARY
AND MEDIA Total employed % change 2008-2015
6% 3%
Scotland North East
68% BUSINESS,
FINANCE 1% 6%
328,642 05 THERAPY 09 AND RELATED Northern Ireland Yorkshire and
483,304
21.4% 11.8%
the Humber
+114.6%
9% 6%
32,025 78,591 North West East Midlands
149,586 666,366
-42.7% +4.3% 7% 3%
West Midlands East

06 HEALTHCARE 10 ENGINEERING
3% 21%
Wales Greater
17.1% 10.5% London

94,851 49,568
12% 22%
South West South East
554,209 469,867
+67.7% -12.7%
*Percentages may not equal 100 per cent due to rounding

02 BUSINESS, FUNCTIONAL
RESEARCH AND MANAGERS AND
SPORT 07 ADMINISTRATIVE 11 DIRECTORS BY AGE* BY GENDER
AND FITNESS

40.4% 14.8% 9% 11% 60%

16-29 Male
90,685 91,367 78,658
224,597 617,491 877,203 20%
+106.2% +54.7% +22.8% 30-39

INFORMATION
SALES, 25%
MARKETING
TECHNOLOGY/TELECOMS
08 12 40-49
AND RELATED
03
MANAGERS AND
12.5% 8.6% 23%
PROPRIETORS 50-59 40%
117,388 83,132
35.3% 938,537 971,198
21%
Female

222,754 +75.4% +87.1%

60+
631,724
+36.7%* *Percentages may not equal 100 per cent due to rounding
TEACHING
13 AND EDUCATION

8.4%
14 BY SECTOR
13
04
12
21% 20%
DESIGN OCCUPATIONS 139,295 Education Professional,
32% 11
1,656,439
+42.7%
and health/
social work
scientific and
technical
58,803
183,562
-8.4% 10
14 PUBLIC SERVICES
12%
1%
05 09 8.4% No data
Arts,
entertainment
and recreation
08 42,869
06 510,358
07 -17.4%

36% 10%
All other industries Information and
*2011-2015 communication

STATUS OF FREELANCE WORKERS CHANGES IN UK WORKFORCE

SELF-ASSESSED STATUS - MULTIPLE CHOICES FOR SEVEN OPTIONS 2011-2015
Men Women Freelancers All in employment
Unemployed Economically active
71.5%
67.1%

25
20 +22.4%
25.3%

24.8%

15
20.4%

20.7%

10
22%

5 +2.8%
+5.4%
0
10.9%

11.2%

11.1%

9.4%

-5
5.9%

-10
2.3%

1.9%

-15
-20

WORKING RUNNING FREELANCE SOLE PARTNER IN SUB-CONTRACTOR AGENCY -25 -27.2%

FOR SELF A BUSINESS WORK DIRECTOR A BUSINESS WORKER -30