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Or generally people you know, not necessarily close friends. Or indeed, you yourself?
I'd say at least 75% of the people I know own their own business or work for themselves in some capacity, very few actually have 'jobs' with a direct employer.
I get the impression most on here are employed - curious as to the trend
About 50%
I myself am an engineering contractor
Everyone at work.
Outside that, 1 in 3 maybe?
4/5 years ago I knew loads of self-employed people and I was self-employed myself. Most on a freelance basis in the creative industries. Now? Virtually none.
This is because we got hung out to dry during covid by Rishi and received no state support. All 3.5 million of us. We became Schrödinger's employees - neither employees or self-employed by the governments definition. Apparently we didn’t exist.
As a direct result of this, the creative industries were absolutely decimated during the pandemic and have never properly recovered, particularly in TV production which is basically now dead on its arse in the UK.
The upshot of it all is that the freelance model just isn’t viable any more as it’s just too precarious, so like many others I’ve now taken a full time job. It’s a lot less stressful, that’s for sure
There's about 30M people on payroll in the UK. About 6M of whom are in the public sector. There is a little under 5M people self employed - although that probably underestimates what you meant - because many people who own a company are on the payroll, and not technically self employed even although to most people it would appear they are. But of course it is highly sector specific. Lots of IT contractors who's answer will depend on who they are talking to.
Only a couple. I know many freelancers/contractors, but they’re largely a tax arrangement when it comes down to it, with little actual decision-making power within the work they do for whoever’s paying them.
Struggling to think of anyone I know who’s got a job
next door neighbours …… that’s it I think
I had a job for a while in 1997
Mrs Gob and I run our own small businesses.
Started in 2021.Best thing we ever did.
In the past I had a couple of mates who ever sole trader tradesmen and I have worked with loads of self employed contractors in various marine/sub sea projects. I was always an employee apart from a brief spell after covid.
The majority certainly, those that haven’t retired
Just reeling a few off that I know reasonably closely without thinking too hard - out of close friends, or would talk to in the pub
Publicans (Free Houses)/hoteliers
Nightclub owner
Japanese 4x4 parts importer
Plumbers
Joiners
House builders
Electricians
Hairdressers
Beauty Salon owners
Tyre fitting garage owner
Mechanics
Water Treatment business
Painter and decorator
Landscape gardeners
Bike mechanics
Car sales
I don't think I know any IT consultants
Me - Electrical Contracting
Mrs STR - Barber Shop
I'm a contract Data Engineer/Analyst. 20% of my friends work for themselves, most of my family and my wife also work for themselves.
Around half amongst my friends - several with small businesses where the only employees are the person and their partner
I don't know that many people!
I suppose one friend as she's technically on a career break and setting herself up as a Jewellery maker - but she was PAYE at the start of the year. Everyone else I know has a permanent job.
I run a couple of businesses and have interests in three other smaller established businesses.
Out of my friends, around 75% have their own ventures going of varying sizes from 3 members of staff to one mate who has around 500 employees.
The businesses range from science, a boutique investment company, IT services, energy, brewery and a tailors.
Maybe about 1 in 10 people I know are self-employed
Wonder if there is any area divide?
Here in Liverpool and Chester, all of my friends are PAYE employed. The only self employed person I know up here is my partner who is a driving instructor.
When I was living down South and commuting to London, I would say a larger percentage were self employed. Not just the typical IT contractors, but people running small businesses, for example owners of shops, petrol stations, car dealers and property developers. Most of them ran multiple businesses.
About a third. With a few recently having moved back to being an employee (for some of the reasons mentioned above). A move I'm looking to make myself ASAP.
4/5 years ago I knew loads of self-employed people and I was self-employed myself. Most on a freelance basis in the creative industries. Now? Virtually none.
We have an audio visual company and most of our work is with providing equipment and crew for clinical trial meetings. As you can imagine we were the very first to stop work, everything on the books for months ahead cancelled in a single morning, and the very last back, way behind those working in more creative areas or hospitality. Due mainly to the fact that no hospital or medical institution anywhere in the world was taking any unnecessary risks when the staff were already being exposed to far higher risk than most people. We use a lot of freelancers and I can't think of a single one who hasn't come back to working with us. I guess it's been very different in differing industries.
Most of the people I know outside of my own work are employed, I'm still employed but thanks to the pandemic I now own the business I'm employed by. I'd never imagined I'd ever be self employed let alone own a company, not something that had ever crossed my mind but having done it if somewhat reluctantly I can't imagine now ever wanting to work for someone else.
Wonder if there is any area divide?
Here in Liverpool and Chester, all of my friends are PAYE employed.
Chester here also...... probably 40% of people I know are self-employed/have their own businesses.
I was employed by the same company for 22 years man and boy - it was horribly toxic by the time I left and making me ill. They shut the doors 3 months after I left. That was 14, going on 15 years ago when I set up as a Sole Trader, becoming Incorporated in 2014. Have the odd wobble every now and then, but on the whole, I haven't looked back.
Had 6 months in North London contracting as a temporary Contracts Manager a couple of years ago - that was long enough to convince me I'd never do it again
50/50
60/40 working in their own business. (Bristol & South West)
I'm in the 60 side. I'm unemployable.
I’m in the 60 side. I’m unemployable.
As I’d spent pretty much all my life self-employed I was told by a recruitment consultant that I was effectively unemployable as I would be unmanageable, or that was how employers would view me. The word he actually used was ‘feral’ 😀
I wear that like a badge of honour. I may get a t-shirt printed
I have actually now got a job with a fantastic, more enlightened company who looked at my experience and wanted someone who wasn’t really going to need ‘managing’ at all. They just leave me alone to get on with what needs doing, knowing it’ll all get done.
Easy life for them. One thing less they have to worry about. works for me to as I don’t have anyone hanging over my shoulder trying to manage me, because I wouldn’t tolerate that for very long. Minutes, possibly seconds. So it’s a win/win for all involved.
Feral, I quite like that.
Sounds like a school careers advice session from my old school.
Most people I know are employed. Think there's about 8 people I know who are self employed. Then there's my sister, who is both!
I'd estimate 90% employed. Locally there isn't any financial advantage to being self-employed , 'consultant'