Are freelancers right to be glum?

MOST freelancers are gloomy about the economy and their own future, a study by the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed found.

Nearly two thirds had a negative outlook on the economy for the coming 12 months, and half for their own prospects – the worst since the quarterly survey began.

Andrew Burke, who co-wrote the report, said: ‘Freelancers are used by businesses to drive innovation, growth and manage upswings in demand, and this is a good lead indicator on how the wider economy will perform.’

However, daily rates of pay, quarterly earnings and time spent working all reached a new high.

And last week data showed the number of self-employed workers had risen by 300,000 to 4.8million in the three months to May 2016.