Dependent self-employment: workers between employment and self-employment in the UK [Abhängige Selbständigkeit: Arbeitskräfte im Graubereich zwischen Beschäftigung und Selbständigkeit]

Analysing the British Labour Force Survey, we highlight that dependent self-employed workers constitute a group distinct from both employees and independent self-employed workers in the labour market group. Dependent self-employed workers show characteristics of a more volatile labour market attachment than employed or self-employed workers. We provide empirical evidence that dependent self-employed workers are rather pushed than pulled into this labour market status, making dependent self-employment an example of “necessity” rather than “opportunity” entrepreneurship. Although data limitations only allow a limited longitudinal analysis, we provide evidence that the majority of dependent self-employed workers remain in the labour market in the short run – either as self-employed or employed – and that only few leave the labour market. In addition, dependent self-employment does not create jobs for others; in our data, dependent self-employed individuals stop being dependent and self-employed because they increase their customer base or return to paid employment. © 2009, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung.