Britons like the idea of self-employment far more than they like the reality of it, with most saying they dream of working for themselves while simultaneously admitting they value the security of a traditional salary, pensions and sick pay.
A global survey of more than 5,000 people across 28 countries found that although almost 69 percent of UK respondents said they would prefer to be self-employed, Britain still ranked among the countries most attached to conventional employment.
The research, commissioned by cross-border payments provider Remitly Business, reveals that many workers remain caught between growing frustration with traditional work and anxiety over financial instability.
The findings also expose growing scepticism towards social media portrayals of entrepreneurship and “hustle culture”, with many respondents suggesting self-employment is often romanticised online.
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Flexibility appeals, but financial fear remains strong
The biggest attractions of self-employment for UK workers were greater flexibility over when and where they work, more independence and improved work-life balance. But the appeal weakened significantly when respondents considered financial risk.
Job security, pensions, sick pay and predictable income remained among the strongest reasons people preferred working for an employer. Nearly two-thirds of Britons said self-employment was more stressful than traditional employment, while 81 percent believed the risks of working for yourself are underestimated.
Despite almost half saying they felt confident they had the skills to become self-employed, only 16 percent said they would actually take practical steps towards doing so. The research suggests that many workers increasingly view self-employment as aspirational rather than realistic, particularly during a period of economic uncertainty and rising living costs.
Social media blamed for selling entrepreneurial fantasy
The survey found widespread suspicion that online culture has distorted perceptions of entrepreneurship. Four in five respondents globally said social media makes self-employment appear more appealing than it really is, while a similar proportion believed hustle culture puts unhealthy pressure on people to constantly earn more or work harder.
That tension has become increasingly visible across workplaces, where some employees publicly embrace side hustles and entrepreneurial ambitions while privately remaining reluctant to leave stable employment. The study also found many workers would require substantially higher earnings before considering self-employment seriously. Nearly a quarter of British respondents said they would need to at least double their current income before taking the risk.
Globally, Kenya recorded the strongest preference for self-employment, with 98 percent saying they would rather work for themselves than for an employer. Australia, New Zealand and the Czech Republic recorded the strongest preference for traditional employment.
Employers may still hold advantages workers value
The results suggest that despite years of discussion around portfolio careers, freelancing and digital entrepreneurship, many employees still place high value on the protections attached to conventional employment.
Those protections may become even more important as economic uncertainty, layoffs and artificial intelligence continue reshaping labour markets.
Ankur Tiwari, vice president and general manager at Remitly Business, said many people were attracted to the independence associated with entrepreneurship but remained worried about financial instability.
“Our research highlights a growing gap between the ambition to start a business and the confidence to take that first step. Many people are drawn to the independence and flexibility that entrepreneurship can offer, but ongoing financial uncertainty is making it harder to make the leap.”
He added that many aspiring entrepreneurs were increasingly interested in operating internationally from the outset. “People want to build businesses that operate across borders from day one.”
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
