Figure 1: Participation in freelance contracting, % of national workforce, 2015 and 2022
| Category | 2015 (%) | 2022 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly freelance work | 5.2 | 10.4 |
| Monthly freelance work | 6.1 | 12.5 |
| Freelance work at least once a year | 8.5 | 15.1 |
| Freelance work ever undertaken | 10.1 | 16.2 |
| Actively seeking freelance work | 22.5 | 29.8 |
Note: Freelance work is defined as project-based or task-based contracts undertaken independently without a permanent employment contract.
Figure 2: Median after-tax real weekly earnings of permanent salaried employees and freelance contractors, 2012 to 2021 (£)
| Year | Permanent Salaried, £ | Freelance Contractors, £ |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 580 | 420 |
| 2013 | 570 | 410 |
| 2014 | 560 | 415 |
| 2015 | 555 | 420 |
| 2016 | 560 | 430 |
| 2017 | 565 | 445 |
| 2018 | 565 | 450 |
| 2019 | 570 | 465 |
| 2020 | 560 | 470 |
| 2021 | 565 | 475 |
Note: Base year for real earnings is 2021.
Explain how the data in Extract A (Figure 2) show that the incentive for workers to choose freelance contract work rather than permanent salaried roles increased between 2012 and 2021.
