The UK has seen a big increase in self-employment since the financial crisis. People who work for themselves face more income ups and downs and less social insurance. Some switch to self-employment because they want to, while others do it because they have to. The rise in self-employment might be due to job quality getting worse, not just losing jobs. Research shows that how much training you get affects if you become self-employed or not. People who feel less connected to their current job are more likely to start their own business. But choosing self-employment doesn't always mean work will be better, especially with the rise of the gig economy.