Independent Contractors: How Many?

Independent Contractors of Australia is frequently asked for statistics on the numbers of self-employed persons. The statistics below have been collated in response to those requests. ICA tracks these figures and updates them as new statistics become available. Self-employed people are people who work for themselves and who might either employ or not employ other people.

Statistics from

Definitions used

There seems to be considerable confusion over terms and definitions used. To assist with clarity, ICA has accumulated and put various definitions into groups below.

ICA says:
Self-employed is the generic term for all working people who are not employees.

This is split into two major sub-categories

Independent contractors. Work entirely on their own without employing anyone.
Small business employers. They own and operate their business which has grown to a size where they employ other people.

			Self-employed who …	… do not employ anyone	… do employ others
Aust Bureau Stats	Aust			Independent contractors	Other business operators
International Labour Organisation	ILO		Self-employed Small business	Independent contractors	Employers
Entity Solutions	Aust	Link		IPros (independent Professionals)
Roy Morgan Research	Aust	Link	Small Business
Prof P Leighton	EU/UK	Link		Independent Professional
MBO report	USA	Link		Independent worker	Employer business
UK ‘Visual’	UK	Link	Work for themselves Self-employed
Professional Contractors Group	UK			Freelancers
Zurich Uni	EU	Link	Self employed
General usage			Home workers

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