Poll: Nearly half freelancers are out of contract

Nearly half of the freelancers who participated in a UKTECH poll are 'out of contract' - and 17 per cent of them have been without work for more than 12 months.

The results are from an online survey carried out in August/September of nearly 700 members of the UKTECH network.

Results

The poll asked: Are you in or out of a contract? If so, how long? Have you been continuously:

..working on a contract for more than 12 months - 37 per cent (255 replies);

..working on a contract for less than 12 months - 21 per cent (143);

..out of contract for less than three months - 6 per cent (45);

..out of contract for 3-6 months - 9 per cent (59);

..out of contract for 6-12 months - 11 per cent (73);

..out of contract for more than a year - 17 per cent (118).

These findings are consistent with other surveys in the past which have revealed that between a quarter and a half of freelancers are out of contract.

However, it is possibly the first time that it has shown that for many freelancers the time spent without work can be years rather than months.

Anecdotal evidence has suggested that many of these freelancers turn their backs on contracting for good, often starting unrelated businesses, while their technical skills are lost to the UK economy for good.

This coincides with repeated claims that the UK needs more highly-qualified, technically proficient flexible workers - and at a time when the Government is introducing various initiatives to encourage people to start their own businesses.