Britain's self-employed earn less today than 20 years ago: think tank report

Self-employed people in Britain earn less now than they did 20 years ago, research released Tuesday revealed.

The number of those working for themselves have grown by almost 50 percent since 2001: a record five million people, or one in seven working age people, the think-tank Resolution Foundation said. Many people have become self-employed construction workers, hairdressers, taxi drivers, tutors and IT consultants.

Research by the foundation reveals average self-employed wages were 240 pounds(295.05 U.S. dollars) a week over 2014 and 2015, down from about 300 pounds a week in 1994-95.

Researchers blamed reduced pay rates on the financial crisis and a rise in lower paid jobs.

Member of Parliament (MP) Clive Lewis, the opposition Labour Party shadow secretary for business, energy and industrial strategy, said the research makes a mockery of the government's claim that the labor market is doing well.

Lewis said: "Technology is radically re-shaping working practices and creating exciting new opportunities for the world of work. But Tory (Conservative Party) failure to adjust to these changes means that, for too many people, flexible working and self-employment are a necessity rather than a choice, and come with lower pay and fewer rights.

An official spokesman for the government's Department for Business said there would be a review of how changing employment practices affect job security, workplace rights and opportunity for progression. Endit