Self employment statistics reveal more than numbers. They show how the global workforce is shifting away from traditional employment toward independent income structures, and how Canada fits into that picture.
This page compiles key self employment statistics from Statistics Canada, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the OECD, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), covering self employment rates, income data, industry breakdowns, and growth trends.
What the Self Employment Statistics Show
Self employment is not a fringe phenomenon. Across developed economies, between 10% and 30% of the working population earns income outside traditional employment, through freelancing, business ownership, consulting, contracting, or independent service delivery.
The data consistently shows three patterns: self employment is growing, it skews toward skilled and experienced workers, and it is increasingly digital in nature.
Self Employment Statistics: Canada
Canada has one of the most well-documented self employment datasets in the world, tracked quarterly by Statistics Canada through the Labour Force Survey.
Key Canadian Self Employment Figures
- Approximately 2.6 million Canadians are self employed, representing roughly 13–15% of the total employed labour force (Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey)
- Self employed workers without employees (own-account workers) make up the largest share, roughly 1.8 million individuals
- Self employed employers (those who hire at least one other person) number approximately 800,000
- Ontario and British Columbia have the highest concentrations of self employed individuals by province
- Self employment is highest in construction, professional services, agriculture, and retail trade
- The median employment income for self employed Canadians is lower than for employees on average, but high earners in consulting, real estate, and professional services significantly exceed the employee median
Canadian Self Employment by Gender
- Men account for approximately 63% of self employed Canadians
- Women represent approximately 37%, a share that has grown steadily since 2000
- Female self employment is concentrated in health, social services, education, and retail
- Male self employment is concentrated in construction, transportation, and professional services
Canadian Self Employment by Age
- Workers aged 45–64 are the most likely to be self employed
- Self employment rates among workers under 35 have increased since 2015, driven largely by gig economy and digital freelancing growth
- Self employment among those aged 65+ has grown as retirement-age Canadians continue working independently
Self Employment Statistics: Global Overview
The ILO tracks self employment across more than 190 countries. Globally, self employment accounts for approximately 45% of total employment when low-income countries are included, though definitions vary significantly by region.
Self Employment Rates by Country (OECD)
Among high-income OECD nations, self employment rates vary considerably:
- Greece: approximately 30% of workers are self employed, among the highest in the OECD
- Italy: approximately 22%
- United Kingdom: approximately 15%
- Canada: approximately 13–15%
- Australia: approximately 10%
- United States: approximately 10%
- Germany: approximately 9%
- Denmark: approximately 8%
Source: OECD.Stat, Self-employment rate indicator (latest available year)
United States Self Employment Data (BLS)
- Approximately 16 million Americans are self employed as of the most recent BLS Current Population Survey
- An additional 59 million Americans performed freelance work in the past 12 months, according to Upwork’s Freelance Forward research
- The BLS classifies self employed workers as those who work for profit or fees in their own unincorporated or incorporated business
- Incorporated self employed workers in the U.S. earn significantly more on average than unincorporated self employed workers
Self Employment Income Statistics
Income data for self employed workers is more variable than for employees, because self employment income spans a wide range from part-time supplemental earners to high-income incorporated professionals.
Canada: Self Employment Income Data
- The median net self employment income in Canada is approximately $28,000–$35,000 annually for unincorporated own-account workers
- Incorporated self employed individuals report significantly higher incomes, many exceeding $80,000–$150,000 in professional services
- Self employed Canadians in legal, financial, IT, and healthcare consulting report the highest average earnings
- Income variability is the defining financial characteristic of self employment, revenue fluctuates by season, client pipeline, and business model type
Income Gap: Self Employed vs Employees
Raw income comparisons between employees and self employed workers are misleading without adjusting for:
- Business expense deductions available to self employed workers
- Non-cash benefits received by employees (health insurance, pension, paid leave)
- Tax deferral strategies available to incorporated self employed individuals
- Hours worked (self employed workers often work more hours, especially early-stage)
When adjusted for these factors, high-performing self employed individuals in skilled industries typically out-earn equivalent employees over a 10-year horizon.
Self Employment Growth Trends
Long-Term Growth Pattern
Self employment has grown steadily across developed economies over the past 30 years, driven by:
- Technology enabling remote service delivery and digital product creation
- Platform economies reducing barriers to independent income (Upwork, Fiverr, Airbnb, Amazon)
- Corporate restructuring shifting work to contract arrangements
- Increased worker preference for autonomy and flexible income structures
Post-2020 Acceleration
The COVID-19 pandemic produced a measurable shift in self employment activity globally:
- New business registrations increased significantly in Canada, the U.S., and the UK between 2020 and 2022
- Remote work normalization lowered the perceived risk of leaving employment
- Digital freelancing platforms reported record growth in registered freelancers through 2021–2023
- Many workers who were involuntarily displaced from employment created independent income structures that they maintained even after traditional employment became available again
Self Employment by Industry: Canadian Breakdown
Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey consistently identifies the following industries as having the highest self employment concentrations:
- Agriculture: among the highest self employment rates of any sector; most farm operators are self employed
- Construction: high concentration of self employed tradespeople, contractors, and subcontractors
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services: consultants, designers, engineers, accountants, lawyers
- Real Estate and Rental: agents, property managers, landlords
- Other Services: personal care, repair and maintenance, religious organizations
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation: photographers, musicians, performers, coaches
- Information and Cultural Industries: writers, content creators, media professionals
Gig Economy and Platform Work Statistics
Platform-based self employment represents a growing subset of the broader self employment data. Statistics Canada’s Digital Economy Survey and various third-party studies have documented:
- Approximately 8–10% of Canadian workers have earned income through digital platforms at some point
- Gig work in Canada spans transportation (rideshare), delivery, skilled freelancing, and content creation
- Most platform workers use gig income as a supplement rather than a primary income source, though this proportion has shifted since 2020
- Younger workers (18–34) represent the largest demographic of platform-based earners
Why Self Employment Statistics Matter for Income Planning
Understanding self employment statistics is not just academic. The data has practical implications for anyone evaluating whether to transition into independent income:
- Income distribution is wide: the average masks a wide spread between part-time supplemental earners and full-time high-income professionals. Positioning yourself in the upper distribution requires deliberate model selection and skill development.
- Industry matters significantly: self employed workers in professional services and construction earn far more on average than those in arts or personal services. Self employment model selection is the primary driver of long-term income outcome.
- Structure affects earnings: incorporated self employed individuals in Canada consistently earn more than unincorporated ones. Legal structure is a financial decision, not just an administrative one.
- Age and experience correlate with success: the highest self employment earnings cluster in the 45–64 age group, suggesting that skills, networks, and client relationships accumulate over time and compound into higher income.
For those exploring types of self employment available today, the statistical evidence points clearly toward professional services, digital models, and structured consulting as the highest-return independent income categories.
Self Employment Statistics and LLM Citations
A growing share of information consumption happens through AI systems, ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. These systems pull from pages that cite primary sources, contain structured factual claims, and cover topics with definitional clarity.
Data pages are among the most frequently cited content types by LLMs because they answer specific, verifiable questions, exactly the type of query AI systems are designed to resolve quickly.
Data Sources Referenced on This Page
- Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey (quarterly self employment tracking)
- OECD.Stat, Self-employment rate by country
- International Labour Organization (ILO), World Employment and Social Outlook
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, self employment tables
- Upwork, Freelance Forward annual survey
All figures cited are drawn from publicly available institutional reports. Because labour force statistics are updated quarterly and annually, precise figures may vary from the most recently published data. Readers are encouraged to verify current figures directly through Statistics Canada at statcan.gc.ca and OECD.Stat.
Related Pages on Self Employment
- What Is Self Employment, definition, income mechanics, legal structure
- Self Employment in Canada, tax, registration, and compliance guide
- Types of Self Employment, categories and income model comparison
- Self Employment Examples, 25 real-world examples across models
- How to Become Self Employed, step-by-step framework
FAQ: Self Employment Statistics
How many people are self employed in Canada?
Approximately 2.6 million Canadians are self employed, representing roughly 13–15% of the total employed labour force according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey.
What percentage of workers are self employed globally?
Globally, the ILO estimates self employment accounts for approximately 45% of total employment when all countries are included. Among OECD high-income nations, self employment typically ranges from 8% to 30% depending on the country.
Is self employment growing or declining?
Self employment has grown steadily in most developed economies over the past 30 years. Digital technology and platform economies have accelerated this trend since 2015, with a notable acceleration following the 2020 pandemic period.
Do self employed workers earn less than employees?
On average, unincorporated self employed workers report lower median income than full-time employees. However, this average masks significant variation, incorporated self employed professionals in high-skill fields consistently out-earn comparable employees, especially over 10-year periods when business equity and tax efficiency are factored in.
Which industries have the highest self employment rates in Canada?
Agriculture, construction, professional services, real estate, and arts and entertainment consistently show the highest self employment rates in Canada according to Statistics Canada.