Partner Article

Self employment trend grows

The number of people who are self employed rose by 367,000 between the start of the economic downturn in 2008, and 2012.

Figures compiled by the Office for National Statistics show 605 of the increase in self-employed workers occurred between 2011 and 2012.

The most common occupations for self-employment were taxi or cab drivers; construction tradesmen and farmers.

Between April and June 2012 there were an estimated 4.2 million people in the UK who were self-employed in their main job, representing 14% of the 29.4 million people in employment.

Self-employment was highest in London at 18%, while it was lowest in the North East.

The average working week for a self-employed person was 38 hours, two hours more than the average for employees.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .