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Further rise in self-employed numbers
12.06.14
The latest Labour Market Statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that self-employment is becoming a career choice for more and more professionals.
Between February and April 2014, the number of self-employed workers in the UK increased by 337,000 to 4.45million.
"We have seen a significant rise in the number of people choosing to become their own boss in every set of labour market statistics annually since 2000. It is particularly exciting to see people from all walks of life realise that starting a business isn't just something other people can do," said Georgios Nikolaidis, Economist at PCG.
"Today's figures from the ONS show self-employment grew again by 1.6% on the last quarter and 8% on last year to reach 4,537 million – compared to a 1% and 1.8% respective growth in 'traditional' employment.
"The number of people under 30 choosing to go freelance has risen by 38% while the number of freelance mothers has gone up by 25%. These are both groups not traditionally associated with starting a business and it is encouraging to see this perception finally changing.
"The confidence to go it alone is clearly spreading across the entire workforce and this can only be good news for our economy. Self-employment really is the future of work."
Elsewhere, the number of people out of work fell by 161,000 to 2.16million - however, earnings growth dropped by 1.2% to 0.7%.
View the full report here.
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