New record: The number of full-time independents and freelancers on the rise in Belgium

Freelancing and independent work is on the rise all over the world and Belgium is no exception to that trend. However, over the past 20 years, the number of freelancers and independents who switched their side-activities into a full-time job is on the record level. In 2018, 30% of people who freelanced as a complementary activity have taken the step to make it their main business, according to Acerta. News site La Dernière Heure brings a story about this remarkable trend.

This is the highest rate of the last 20 years. DHnet.be article notes that people with side activities move into the main freelancing/independent business faster and faster after their start. This was concluded by Acerta who studied the data on a sample of 140,000 independents in Belgium.

DHnet.be also reports that last five years marked a return of the confidence and more and more additional independents decide to venture into a full-time freelancing. As service company Acerta notes – the share of people going into full-time freelance/independent activity has increased to reach 29.8% in 2018. This is the highest rate since 1999, which had recorded 30 %. This trend is set to continue in 2019, according to the available data until October this year.

To read the full article, head to DHnet.be (article in French)