Highly educated self-employed workers increasingly have more than three clients per year. In addition, the number of zzp'ers providing their own labor to organizations is declining slightly and only 2.7 percent of zzp'ers are working as entrepreneurs because the organization suggested this form of contract. This is according to a new research report on zzp'ers. Marion van Happen, CEO HeadFirst Group: "Zzp'ers are entrepreneurial and are rarely forced into zzp-ship. These are important insights for politicians in The Hague."

The outgoing cabinet is working on new policies to reduce false self-employment. The difference between zzp'ers with many and few clients is very relevant. The minister wants the criterion 'organizational embedding' to weigh more heavily in the assessment of whether someone may be hired as a self-employed person. Someone who works many hours for one organization is more likely to meet this standard than an entrepreneur who works for many different clients. The percentage of self-employed individuals who depend on a limited number of clients per year has dropped significantly. In 2021, 42 percent (240,000) of the self-employed who offer their own labor still had a maximum of three clients; now it is 35 percent (210,000).

Incorrect assumptions
These figures come from the research report called 'Grip op het zzp-dossier', which was compiled by knowledge platform ZiPconomy, commissioned by HR tech service provider HeadFirst Group and entrepreneurs' organization ONL voor Ondernemers. The initiators aim to bring relevant, independent facts to light. This is important for the public debate on the position of self-employed people in the labor market, which regularly takes place on the basis of incorrect assumptions.

For example, it suggests that companies are forcing employees to become self-employed. Figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and TNO show the opposite. Only 2.7 percent of zzp'ers are working as entrepreneurs because the client suggests this form of contract. Marion van Happen, CEO HeadFirst Group, says: "These figures show that forced self-employment is minimal. The majority of zzp'ers consciously choose self-employment."

Share of self-employed own labor declines
Furthermore, while the number of self-employed workers appears to be growing, the share of self-employed workers offering their own labor is actually declining. Thus, the overall growth of the self-employed is mainly driven by self-employed people selling products (+10 percent). This is striking, given that the political discussion focuses exclusively on self-employed people who are hired.

"The cabinet aims for more permanent employment contracts and fewer flexible employment relationships, but the measures to achieve this also affect entrepreneurs who do not compete with employees," explained chairman Hans Biesheuvel of ONL voor Ondernemers. For example, small shopkeepers, manufacturers and other self-employed people who sell their products are also affected by the phasing out of the self-employment deduction and the SME profit exemption."

More facts and figures about the self-employed
The report contains numerous other valuable insights regarding the self-employed. For example, 83 percent of the self-employed were found to be (very) satisfied with their current work situation, which is a slight increase from 2021. Among employees, this percentage is 78 percent. Moreover, self-employed workers are less worried about the future than ever: 61 percent of self-employed workers who offer their own labor are not worried at all. This is the highest percentage since the first survey by CBS and TNO in 2013. Download the full report here.