Freelancing is booming. Whether you have taken the leap or are still pondering if you should, the truth is that you are not alone in this. Many people want to go freelance, mainly due to the ability to follow your own schedule and not having to answer to a boss.
The proof is in the freelancing pudding: 84% of freelancers in the UK say that they are satisfied with self-employment. These and other statistics are compiled in the infographic below, so take a look at the world of the freelancer – who knows, it might even convince you to become one!
Freelancers Everywhere
Because of the benefits that going freelance can offer, the number of freelancers has risen in the past few years. 2 million Brits have now jumped into the freelancer world, for example. But the UK is not the only country where you can find these figures.
In the EU, between 2004 and 2013, freelancing has grown 45%. In the US, 34% of the employed population are freelance, 21% in Italy and 13% in Spain and Slovakia.
And did you know that there are 49 million people freelancing as a career in Europe and the USA? The numbers of freelancers who do this appear to be growing and outnumber the ones who freelance out of financial necessity (26 million).
Freelancers also seem to work from a variety of industries – a study made with 17,300 freelancers all around the world showcases that the largest percentage of freelancers work in Development (26.4%) – in the UK, specifically, 21% of freelancers work in scientific and technical sectors.
Freelancing in the UK
The UK’s freelance population is growing, there is no denying that. With this growth, also comes great financial contributions, as 2016 saw £119 billion pumped into the UK’s economy. Google, for instance, has up to 50% freelancers on the payroll.
There is also a wide range of variety when it comes to the freelancer demographic. 59% of freelancers last year were men, while the number of freelancing mothers has increased by 79% between 2008-2016. The average age of freelancers is 47.
What the Future Holds
As the number of freelancers continues to grow, it is expected by many that, by 2020, half the working population could be freelance! Just in the UK and USA, self-employment is growing at a rate of 3.5% every year.
At ICS, we can handle the accounting side of your business, so contact us if you wish to receive specialist advice that will help your freelance business flourish.
