In 2023, the number of self-employed persons in the UK publishing sector stood at 40,000. Forecasts from 2024 to 2028 suggest steady growth, with figures reaching up to 42,000 by 2028, indicating an overall increase of 5% over this period. The year-on-year growth is modest, around 2.5% initially from 2024 to 2025, stabilizing thereafter. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over these five years is projected at around 1%.

Future trends to observe include:

Technological advancements influencing self-publishing and digital content platforms.
Regulatory changes impacting freelance and gig economy work.
Shifts in consumer demand for digital and online media formats.