ONS figures tip of the iceberg for self-employed and freelancers

Figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed the urgent need for government to fill the gaps for freelancers who have been excluded from support schemes so far.

The figures revealed a fall of 131,000 in the number of self-employed people in the three months to April – a record fall.

Over 600,000 jobs have been lost from the economy demonstrating that despite the existence of the furlough scheme employers are turning to redundancy.

The Treasury Select Committee highlighted on 15 June that nearly 1m people have been excluded from government support schemes and many of those people fall within the creative industries.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “What these figures fail to show is the human devastation of people who are out of work and been ineligible for income support schemes because they work as freelancers.

“This record fall in self-employment is just the tip of the iceberg. It won’t include those who are working in limited companies or people who work on short-term contracts and are PAYE. Both groups have been largely overlooked by the government despite solutions, that Bectu has proposed, that would allow them to access support.

“As the economic fallout of coronavirus continues to emerge people working in film, TV, theatre, live events and the arts are desperate for the government to step in and provide backing that has been lacking for this sector throughout the crisis.

“Specific support for the creative industries including income support measures for those who have had access to none so far must be a top priority for the Chancellor.”