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The size and scope of the UK’s freelance workforce is to be put under the microscope thanks to academics and business experts sceptical about official calculations. Freelance trade body the Professional Contractors Group has commissioned Kingston University to profile what the government sees as an ‘atypical’ working group. They hope the research will help people accept and understand that there is a “third way” in the jobs market – other than just being an employer or an employee. “We believe that because official statistics are sketchy, the number of professional freelancers is far greater than the government recognises,” said John Brazier, PCG’s chief executive. He said the figures are inaccurate partly because of the way people describe their working habits, the way they are officially described and the fluid nature of the freelance community. “It is astonishing that the government has never recorded the number of people who work like this [the third way],” Mr Brazier said. The group’s project will result in a definition of freelance work, an estimate of how many people practice it and the extent of such workers in certain sectors. It will also unearth the real-world terms freelancers answer to in different sectors and in different work contexts, making for a more accurate headcount. If successful, the project should offer further insights into the personal, work and organisational characteristics of the freelance workforce. Professor David Smallbone of Kingston University’s Small Business Centre, which will lead the project, welcomed the chance to probe freelancers - “an unacknowledged group within the economy,” he said. His team will begin investigating the “clearly important” roles freelancers play in the UK and Europe from next month, with initial findings expected later this year. Earlier this week, the PCG said these important roles freelancers play could be disturbed if rising fuel prices aren’t addressed. “Many of PCG’s members travel long distances to supply their services to clients,” Mr Brazier said. “The rising cost of petrol is making it less and less cost-effective for them to go the extra mile – literally – for their clients. The punitive tax regime around Allowed Mileage Allowance Payments does not help things. This is just another stealth tax.” The group said it will write to Alistair Darling, the chancellor, to highlight the dangers posed to labour market flexibility by the current regime governing fuel prices. Jun 11, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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