According to a recently released report, the number of women joining the ranks of freelancers and umbrella company contractors has gone up significantly as a result of the economic recession.
Female workers have embraced self-employment since the economic crisis, says the Trade Union Congress, as unemployment figures for women have not risen as sharply as they have for their male counterparts. In fact, TUC data shows that there were nearly 200,000 more women working for themselves than there were before the economic crisis – and that permanent positions occupied by female workers fell by 170,000 during the same time frame – suggesting a net gain of nearly 30,000 jobs.
Brendan Barber, general secretary for TUC, commented on the findings, remarking that while the news is good, overall employment numbers are still far off from where they need to be. Unemployment has been rising at a steady rate over the past two years in particular when it comes to female workers, Mr Barber added, and even with the recent gains, unemployment amongst women in the UK still remains at just over one million individuals.
However, those that are still working steadily are much more likely to be doing so through an agency or umbrella company than through a traditional permanent employment position, said TUC’s general secretary. The self-employed are doing their best to bring the economy back from the brink, but there’s only so much they can do realistically, especially with the labour markets watching the developing eurozone crisis so carefully and withholding any financial risks until after a resolution is reached.
