36 Stats That Might Surprise You About Freelancing

Over 200,000 freelancers in the UK have other jobs.*
Just over a third of self-employed mothers with dependent children work full-time.*
10% of self-employed people are aged 65 years or over, compared with just 3% of employees.*
The withdrawal of the UK from the EU significantly affected the UK’s freelance employment sector. 39% of the UK’s freelancers had at least one EU-based project or contract in 2019.*
60% of the UK freelance community said their turnover had decreased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.*
52% of UK freelancers reported not feeling supported by the government - including 31% who do not feel supported at all.”*
The majority of freelancers work in the artistic, literary and media sectors.*
The average UK freelancer is 48 years old.*
39% of UK freelancers work as writers, artists, designers, or as sales and marketing, health, business and finance associate professionals.*
50% of UK freelancers are aged 40-59.*
Self-employed men earn 43% more than women.*
The number of self-employed disabled workers in the UK has increased by 30% over five years.*
16% of freelancers are working mums.*
21% of freelancers are over 60.*
1 in 5 freelancers say their mental health is poor or very poor since the pandemic.*
Two thirds of freelancers say the roll out of the vaccine programme gave them confidence for the future of their business.*
The UK's freelance population is made up of 56% males and 44% females. More equal distribution than the UK's self-employed population of 62% to 38%.*
There’s been a 66% increase in 16-29-year-old freelancers in the UK since 2008.*
The USA has the fastest-growing freelance market (59% YOY revenue growth).**
The UK has the second-fastest-growing freelance market (68% YOY revenue growth).**
Two-thirds of freelancers say they made the right career move.***
42% of UK freelancers prefer working without supervision from a manager or a boss.***
2.2 million freelancers in the UK.****
Over 1 billion freelancers estimated globally.****
The pandemic has caused a reversal in growth to the solo self-employed sector.****
43% of new freelancers cite wanting to improve their mental health as motivation.*****
The most significant stressor for the self-employed is the irregularity of income.*****
65% are feeling positive about 2021 professionally.*****
48% of freelancers say their job makes them feel lonely.******
54% said they found freelance life liberating.******
31% of US freelancers make $75,000 or more.*******
UK freelancers make an average of £13.77 per hour.********
37% of companies declared they hire freelancers when they need to access top-class expertise on a temporary basis. *********
83% of people said they feel less lonely working in co-working environments.**********
17% of small businesses are majority-led by women – which means controlled by a single woman or having women majority management.**********
34% of Brits with a side hustle confessed to concealing their incomes. ************