Header logo
Log in
Listing News Opinion Generic

Feeling down at work on Blue Monday? Freelancing could be the answer

Research from IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) ahead of Blue Monday, shows freelancers are overwhelmingly happy with self-employment. Three out of four (77%) freelancers said they were happy with working for themselves, while just five per cent said they were unhappy. This is compared to 69 per cent across the entire workforce.[1] 

20 Jan 2020
Share

IPSE’s research also found that people are going into freelancing for positive reasons, including having greater flexibility (88% said this was a factor), the freedom to choose where they work (83%), when they work (84%) and having a better work-life balance. By contrast, just one in five (19%) said losing their job was a factor.

Chloé Jepps, Head of Research at IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed), said: “There’s a reason the number of freelancers in the UK has shot up by 47 per cent in the last ten years: as this research shows, the freedom and flexibility of freelancing can be a real boost to happiness and work satisfaction.

“From this, it’s clear that not only are people going freelance for overwhelmingly positive reasons like getting a better work-life balance; they are also significantly happier working for themselves. Freelancing isn’t necessarily the answer for everyone, but if you’re reconsidering your job situation on Blue Monday, it might be worth thinking about working for yourself.”

[1] CIPD UK Working Lives report 2019, p52

Listing New directors
Introducing IPSE’s new elected Directors: Lisa Chadwick and Martin Spiller
+1 more

Meet the newest additions to IPSE’s board of directors, who play a vital role in setting strategy for the organisation.

05 Feb 2026
About us simpler
IPSE
Appetite for risk freelancing 2026 2
Why appetite for risk will define freelancing in 2026
+5 more

IPSE’s Josh Toovey argues that a changing risk–reward balance is making self-employment a harder choice for many people in the UK.

22 Jan 2026
Josh Toovey Headshot
Josh Toovey
Listing advice networking 2
We’ve teamed up with Qdos – here’s what that means for you
+1 more

IPSE’s Managing Director, Vicks Rodwell, outlines how our new partnership with Qdos strengthens member protection, enhances expert support and delivers expanded b...

15 Jan 2026
Vicks Rodwell
Vicks Rodwell
IPSE-LOGO-HEADER

Join our newsletter

Registered in England and Wales, no 03770926. 4th Floor, 95 Gresham Street, City of London, London EC2V 7AB