IPSE is at the forefront of research into freelancing and self-employment. We work with our members, leading academic institutions and stakeholders to shed light on the interests, support needs and concerns of freelancers so we can champion them in government and across industry. 

Trending stats

 

Research hub stats

80%

of freelancers felt that moving to self-employment had at least a somewhat positive impact on their mental health.

Research hub stat 2

£278 billion

The solo self-employed contributed an estimated £278 billion to the UK economy in 2022.

 

Research hub stat 1 1

£584

Freelancers' average day rates have now increased to their highest levels since the establishment of the Confidence Index in 2014.

 

Research hub stat 4

Flexibility

The key reasons people go freelance are for the flexibility (88%) and control over work (88%) it offers.

Recent reports 

 

The Self-Employed Landscape in 2023

Released annually, the IPSE Self-Employed Landscape report for 2023 provides a snapshot of how the sector’s size, demographics and economic impact have changed in the past year.

IR35 Spotlight 2023: Insights from the UK's contracting sector

IPSE’s annual IR35 Spotlight tracks key metrics related to IR35, including the ways contractors work, their client’s approach to the rules and the success rate of appeals against client determinations. The aim is to be able to report IR35’s long-term impact on UK contracting.

Freelancer Confidence Index Q1 2023

The survey measures overall trends in the market for freelancers in order to identify inflationary pressures, business confidence, and an overview of freelancers’ perception of general economic conditions for Q1 2023.

Freelancer Confidence Index Q4 2022

The survey measures overall trends in the market for freelancers in order to identify inflationary pressures, business confidence, and an overview of freelancers’ perception of general economic conditions for Q4 2022.

 

Find unique insights from our research mini-hubs 

 

Self-employed landscape hub image

You can find our latest research into areas such as the impact of IR35 reforms, assessing the concerns of umbrella company workers and our work in understanding support gaps throughout the pandemic.

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Freelancer Confidence Index hub image

We look at the financial wellbeing of the self-employed in areas such as late payment, the impact of the pandemic on freelancers' finances and our review of how frequently freelancers should pay their taxes.

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Freelancer Confidence Index hub image

The only authoritative indicator on freelancers' business performance, our quarterly survey measures business and economic confidence in order to track index levels and identify inflationary pressures.

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Self-employed for the disabled hub image


Our research into the disabled self-employed focuses on the key challenges they face and how we can better support this vital and growing section of the self-employed community.

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Freelancer Confidence Index hub image


We explore the importance of exercise and taking time off as a freealancer, the benefits of remote working whilst also assessing the impact of the pandemic on freelancers' mental health and wellbeing.

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Women in Self-employment hub image


Our latest research focuses on the experiences of pioneering women within the sector, their concerns and support needs and ultimately underpins our policy work outlining how government can close the Gender Pay Gap.

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A library of insights

Resource library

As part of IPSE’s commitment to learning more about the self-employed sector, we conduct, commission and publish new research on a regular basis. Here you can find our growing library of research into freelancing and self-employment.

Resource Library

Can't find what you're looking for?

 

Our research provides us with fresh insights and statics that not only help government and industry understand the self-employed sector, but also power our policy campaigns to improve the business environment and make the UK a better place to be freelance. 

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Uncovering answers to the important questions

Live surveys

By taking part in our surveys, you will provide important insights into the self-employment market that supports our work with government and industry.

We run many surveys throughout the year, so click on the link below to see what we have coming up. If we're inbetween surveys don't worry, we'll advertise these through our membership emails and on our social channels. 

 

Join our research community

Research Community

We run regular research throughout the year to help understand the issues facing the sector and help back up our policy positionings. It is crucial that we have evidence to back up everything we say to give it validity.

That’s where you come in – join our research community today and help us represent the sector as best as we can.

 

 

Join IPSE today and help us shape the future of freelancing

 

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Where next?

 

Resource Library

 

Campaign hub

 

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