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The self-employment trap?

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Blackburn
  • Stephen Machin
  • Maria Ventura

Abstract

The seventh LSE-CEP survey of the self-employed was undertaken in June 2023. The results revealed that the self-employed are still in the doldrums and their incomes and activity have not resumed to pre-pandemic levels. The cost of living crisis has been exacerbated by the increase in interest rates, which has hit homeowner self-employed particularly hard. While many among them express willingness to move towards positions in salaried employment, they are often prevented to do so by the scarcity of suitable jobs or the lack of adequate skills or training. The hardships they are facing is also affecting their health, with one in three self-employed displaying "Moderate" to "Severe" mental health issues. Nevertheless, their discontent is likely to be reflected in the next general election outcomes, as many self-employed are turning from voting Conservative to Labour.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Blackburn & Stephen Machin & Maria Ventura, 2023. "The self-employment trap?," CEP Covid-19 Analyses cepcovid-19-030, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepcvd:cepcovid-19-030
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    File URL: https://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/cepcovid-19-030.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ross Levine & Yona Rubinstein, 2018. "Selection into Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment," NBER Working Papers 25350, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Andrew Burke & Marc Cowling, 2020. "The role of freelancers in entrepreneurship and small business," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 389-392, August.
    3. Andrew Burke & Marc Cowling, 2020. "On the critical role of freelancers in agile economies," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 393-398, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. McGinnity, Frances & Russell, Helen & Alamir, Anousheh, 2024. "The equality impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Irish labour market," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number JR6.

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