More self-employed without personnel chuck it in

In the first quarter of 2009, there were nearly 630 thousand self-employed without personnel (zzp workers). Their number declined by more than 20 thousand relative to the third quarter of 2009.

From growth to decline

The number of zzp workers has grown steadily in recent years. Growth stagnated when the economic crisis struck. In the second quarter of 2009, the number of zzp workers declined for the first time compared to twelve months ago and declined further in the third quarter of 2009.

Self-employed without personnel

Former zzp workers often join the non-labour force

Self-employed without personnel who were forced out of the labour market in general do not become unemployed. About 5 percent of self-employed without personnel in the second quarter of last year were no longer active in a self-employed capacity three months later. Only 0.5 percent of them were unemployed.

Over 2 percent of zzp workers who had chucked their jobs, accepted paid employment jobs and the remainder no longer belonged to the employed labour force. The share of zzp workers who joined the non-labour force has increased distinctly relative to the second quarter of 2008.

Self-employed without personnel who chucked their jobs by position on the labour market three months later

Lian Kösters and Robert de Vries