Five ways that freelancers are transforming the economy – infographic
Thanks to the self-employment possibilities promised by companies like Airbnb, Uber and Etsy, more and more of us are rethinking our employment options, and rejecting the traditional 9-5 for freelancing.
Already, five million UK workers are in self-employment because of the sharing economy (peer-to-peer based sharing of goods and services). And 3% of us apparently earn up to £5,000 a week by exploiting opportunities coming from the ‘gig economy’ – working individual ‘gigs’ rather than full-time jobs.
More than 40% of new jobs over the past four years have been in self-employment; a figure that looks set to grow as governments and corporations wake to the reality of a shifting economic landscape. Freelancers enable small business to respond quickly to consumer needs, without the overheads (and admin) of retaining permanent staff.
Freelancing, as well as earning an additional (or even full-time) income through sites like Etsy and eBay, is also an attractive option for mums who want to use their skills and experience and do something they enjoy, while working (and earning a living) on their terms.
If you’re considering embracing the freelance world, this infographic explores the opportunities and challenges you, and the authorities, face.
