- The number of workers who are self-employed in their main job rose 367,000 between 2008, the start of the economic downturn, and 2012
- 60% of the increase in self-employed workers occurred between 2011 and 2012
- 84% of the increase in self-employed workers since 2008 was for those aged 50 and above
In 2012:
- Self-employed people worked longer hours than employees, tended to be older than employees and were more likely to be male
- The four most common occupations for self-employment were taxi or cab drivers, ‘other’ construction trades, carpenters and joiners and farmers
- The proportion of workers who were self-employed was highest in London (18%), while the lowest proportion was in the North East (11%
Brian Dear 