Marvin OnumonuFreelancers in the creative industries are facing a tough time, with Bectu’s Big Survey showing 39% were out of work and only 13% felt secure in their jobs.
The survey found 82% of freelancers said their work was precarious and only 24% felt confident about their future in the sector.
Just a quarter had worked every month in the last six months, while 6% had not worked at all over that period.
There was heavy pressure to work long hours when jobs were available.
Only 8% worked a standard 8-hour day, while 23% said their usual day was 12 hours, 38% worked 10 to 11 hours, 14% worked 13 to 14 hours, and 5% said their average working day was 15 hours or longer.
Freelancers were struggling financially, with a quarter saying things were extremely difficult, while 42% said things were worse than usual.
In the last year, 11% struggled to pay rent or mortgage, 16% could not cover household bills, 10% had to move back in with family, and 3% used a foodbank.
Around a third had no savings and fewer than half had a pension.
Working class freelancers were hit harder, with 45% having no savings and 56% with no pension.
Late payments added to the problem, with 37% saying late payments hit their cash flow or pushed them into debt.
Only 48% were always paid on time.
In the last year, 21% often waited more than 30 days for a payment.
Only 6% of freelance women had been offered paid leave or flexible working for fertility appointments and just 22% could access job shares or flexible working.
Over a third said their work had affected their decisions about having children.
Nearly a third saw themselves working in another industry in five years.
Bectu called for a freelance champion with real powers, action on late payments, better data and tax systems to cover different freelance statuses, access to employment rights like sick pay and parental leave, stronger enforcement of existing rights, and to consider freelancers in plans for single worker status.
