The two core figures seem to be the 4 million freelancers if you count virtually all self employed people and the 1.4 million if you take the narrrower definition. These shouldn’t come as a surprise, PCG’s former marketing advisor did some research in 2003 and identified that there were 4.3 million self employed or temporary workers and between 1 to 1.2 million freelancers.

My take on this is that the earlier research was remarkably good and that there’s been little change in the last 5 years. It’s great to see the numbers firmed up, but very dangerous to assume that they indicate some sort of growth on the contrary it would appear that the market has been surprisingly stable, given anecdotal evidence.

This survey provides the proof of what is yet to come and if you are well placed, you’ll not only survive but be pretty damn successful!