If you want a better construction sector, support the self-employed

For a long time, the freelance-heavy construction sector has been one of the key focal points for the debate about self-employment. And with Britain’s housing crisis looming ever-larger, the focus on this vital sector is only intensifying. That’s why Hudson and the Centre for Research on Self-Employment (CRSE) commissioned the landmark new report, Freelance Workers in the Construction Industry. You may find the results a little surprising…

There is a growing myth at the moment that the widespread self-employment in the construction sector is somehow harming not only the welfare of construction workers themselves, but also the productivity of the industry as a whole. What this report has shown is just how untrue this is. It has proved beyond doubt that using a freelance-intensive workforce model is better both for many highly skilled construction workers, and for most firms in the industry.