70% of the self-employed work on their own out of necessity, according to a report by Adecco

MADRID, 23 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

70% of the self-employed work on their own out of necessity and almost six out of ten would like to have a full-time employee job, since they consider that this option would give them more peace of mind, according to the results of the XXV edition of the Infoempleo Report Adecco: Employment Supply and Demand in Spain, published this Tuesday.

However, 50.45% of the self-employed consider that they are happier since they are self-employed, although this figure has decreased by 4% since 2020. 48.86% of the self-employed value being their own boss, while for 42.5% the main advantage is being able to set their own schedules.

People who are starting out in self-employment consider it a priority to have adequate professional experience, as indicated by 35.91% of the responses, followed by the guarantee of good financial support, for 29.77%. To a lesser extent, starting with a good business idea is also valued, according to 20%.

To start at work, 70% of those surveyed resorted to their own savings to start their business, while 23.86% asked for money from their family and friends, 23.18% resorted to bank loans and 14. 77% capitalized their unemployment benefit.

For their part, only 12.73% opted for aid and subsidies and 1.36% had the help of "business angels". The Adecco survey also reflects that collective financing is still rare in Spain, with only 0.45%.

During 2020, self-employed workers preferred remote work over face-to-face work, but now this trend has turned around and now 57.05% of the self-employed choose to go to their work centers, compared to 42.95 % who prefer telecommuting.

That percentage that opts for remote work opts for the hybrid model in 22.75% of cases, with work weeks that allow them to work online between three and four days. The preferred place to telework for 53.44% of those surveyed is their own home and only 9.52% do so from an alternative center close to home.

For their part, those who prefer traditional work argue that they prefer to go to the office to socialize and meet with clients in person, according to 66.14% of the responses. 16.33% say they lack the ideal conditions at home to work, while 13.15% go to the office to make the difference between work and conciliation, and 4.38% prefer face-to-face work to save money. additional costs of working from home.

The group of self-employed workers also shows their doubts regarding the four-day work week. 57.95% see this option as unfeasible due to the lack of benefit to maintain salaries with better working hours (34.90%), the loss of productivity (30.59%) or not having options to cover the fifth day of the working day with other employees (21.57%).

Compared to that 57.95%, 42.05% believe it possible, with a salary proportional to the time worked (22.50%) or with full salary maintenance (19.55%), according to the Adecco study.

In 2020, 31.4% of the self-employed confessed that they were in a very bad situation, but a year later that percentage dropped to 21.82% of those consulted. Despite this, 29.32% have had to resort to the benefit for cessation of activity during the past year.

Adecco highlights in its report that 88.18% of the self-employed refused to take advantage of the ERTE to save their business, and only 7.05% requested an ERTE to terminate the working day and 4.77% ERTE to reduce the working day.

86.82% of those surveyed say that they have not made layoffs either, compared to 8.87% who have. The loss of billing due to the coronavirus has affected 69.55% of the self-employed in the last year, compared to 74% who declared having lost income in 2020.

However, where the stagnation is most noticeable is in hiring, since 92.05% of those surveyed do not plan to hire anyone in 2022. 50.91% say they do not need more staff, but in other cases they respond to reasons such as the recession of its activity, (26.82%), excess costs (12.73%), or the poor economic results it had last year (1.59%). Only 7.95% plan to recruit more staff.

80% of the self-employed in Spain work alone, either from home (42.95%) or from rented premises (23.18%).

The working hours of these professionals usually range between 8 and 10 hours a day, in 36.14% of the cases. 27.05% spend between 6 and 8 hours a day at work and 18.86% more than ten hours.

66.82% of the professionals consulted work from five to six days a week and 25.23% affirm that their work extends to seven days a week.

Adecco also pays attention in this survey to the figure of the "trade", self-employed workers who carry out their professional activity for another company, from which they receive at least 75% of their income, and, therefore, they are considered financially dependent. In Spain, 36.59% of the self-employed are "trade" and the remaining 63.41%, independent.

54.09% mention the high taxation for the group among their main problems, followed by 50.91% who allude to the high social and administrative burdens.

Among their concerns, the difficulty in obtaining clients (24.55%) and the unfair competition caused by the underground economy (23.86%) also stand out.