Youth Futures Foundation · 2026
This report uses a range of secondary datasets to examine self-employment among young people in the UK, exploring who opts for it, how they enter it, and how their earnings, hours, and job satisfaction compare with those of employees. Key findings include that self-employment intentions among young people significantly exceed actual take-up, with the gap varying by gender and ethnicity. While self-employed young people initially earn more than employees, employees' earnings overtake them by their mid-20s; however, the self-employed report higher job satisfaction and lower job-related anxiety and depression. The report concludes that a tailored support programme could help marginalised young people — particularly those who are NEET — pursue self-employment as a viable labour market pathway.