Britain’s workforce diversifies

SJD Accountancy has attributed the increase to factors including on-going pressure to cut costs and remove permanent headcount in the private sector. And according to figures from YouGov, around a third of the UK workforce would like to create their own company. Unemployment, graduates struggling to secure jobs, the virtual demise of final salary pensions, job security and zero percentage wage rises, is pushing many people's hands. Simon Dolan managing director of SJD Accountancy commented: "Historically, the contractor and freelancer market has been dominated by IT contractors. However, in the past few years there has been a shift in that we are seeing many traditionally permanent job roles being converted into contract positions including HR, sales, marketing, healthcare and engineering. "Currently, nearly 50% of all new clients are from sectors outside of IT. With permanent jobs no longer making people feel secure within their roles, we feel the future will see a lot more people wanting to take back control by contracting or setting up their own company, as has been shown throughout 2010."