One-third of companies indicate that they do not hire freelancers. The majority (over 54 percent) of companies that do hire freelancers expect the hiring to remain the same in 2025 compared to 2024. Over 42 percent expect a decrease in hiring in the coming year, and only 3 percent of companies expect an increase.

From 2025, the enforcement moratorium on labor relations will no longer apply. This means that the Tax Authority can immediately impose a supplementary tax assessment if it turns out that freelancers should actually be considered employees. During the enforcement moratorium, companies usually only received suggestions to improve their working methods. Of the companies that expect to hire fewer freelancers in 2025, over half indicate this is due to the end of the enforcement moratorium. Other companies hire fewer freelancers for other reasons.

Construction Industry Most Often Expects a Decrease in Freelancer Hiring

Ending the Enforcement Moratorium Affects Sectors Differently

On a more detailed level of sectors, entrepreneurs in research with almost 70 percent most often expect a decrease in hiring freelancers. Entrepreneurs in security and surveillance services and radio and television broadcasting most often cite the end of the enforcement moratorium as a reason to hire fewer freelancers. For almost all companies in these sectors that expect a decrease in freelancers, this is the reason. In cleaning companies and gardeners, 66 percent expect a decrease in freelancer hiring. Here, too, the end of the enforcement moratorium is the main reason for most companies.

Shortage of Qualified Personnel is the Main Reason to Hire Freelancers

For companies that hire freelancers, a shortage of qualified personnel is the main reason to do so (39 percent). Knowledge and experience for specific assignments are mentioned by 22 percent of companies. Flexibility in staffing is relatively often mentioned in construction (29 percent) and in the car and retail trade (26 percent). Extra work due to production peaks is generally a less important reason for freelancer hiring (12 percent). In culture, sports, and recreation (23 percent) and agriculture, forestry, and fishing (20 percent), this plays a relatively larger role.