The global landscape of self-employed individuals in ICT and information services shows varied trends across countries. In 2023, the United States led with 156,000 self-employed individuals, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 1.47%. Poland marked the highest positive growth rate at 3.71%, while Ireland experienced the greatest decline at -4.36%. Other notable growths were observed in South Korea, Czech Republic, and New Zealand, each with a 3.4-3.5% increase. Conversely, the United Kingdom and Italy saw reductions in their self-employment numbers in this sector.
Countries like Estonia and Lithuania showed significant growth at 5.92% and 8.45% respectively, indicating a potential trend toward increasing self-employment in smaller markets.
Future trends suggest a potential rise in self-employment due to increasing digitalization and remote work preferences. Observing growth patterns in Eastern European countries and smaller digital economies could guide strategic market entries or expansions. Moreover, the sustained growth in larger economies like the US signals ongoing opportunities for self-employed ICT and information service professionals.
Top countries in Number of Self-Employed Persons in ICT and Information Services by Country
| # | 10 Countries | Thousand Units (Persons) | Last Year | YoY | 5-years CAGR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 United States | 156 | 2023 | +1.3% | +1.47% | View data |
| 2 | 2 Germany | 111 | 2023 | 0% | -0.18% | View data |
| 3 | 3 Poland | 96 | 2023 | +4.35% | +3.71% | View data |
| 4 | 4 United Kingdom | 88 | 2023 | +1.15% | -2.72% | View data |
| 5 | 5 Italy | 77 | 2023 | -1.28% | -1.25% | View data |
| 6 | 6 France | 56 | 2023 | +1.82% | +2.71% | View data |
| 7 | 7 Colombia | 51 | 2023 | -1.92% | -1.42% | View data |
| 8 | 8 Canada | 36 | 2023 | 0% | +0.57% | View data |
| 9 | 9 Netherlands | 35 | 2023 | +2.94% | +2.46% | View data |
| 10 | 10 South Korea | 26 | 2023 | +4% | +3.4% | View data |
