Sharp rise in number of sole-traders a ‘worrying trend for economy’

Half of the 63,000 additional people in work since employment bottomed out in the first half of 2012 are working for themselves and have no paid employees.

The vast number of people that have set up their own business in that period but whose companies remain one-person operations may partly explain why an increase in the number of people employed has not translated into economic growth of corresponding value.

That’s according to economist, Annette Hughes of DKM economic consultants who believes the number of people working for themselves is a worrying phenomenon.