A recent study has shown that 50% of freelancers would reject a 100% increase in pay if it meant returning to regular employment.

An independent working life, flexible hours and being your own boss were quoted as reasons for rejecting a return to the ‘rat race’, even with the cash incentive.

To a freelancer the benefits of freelance working vastly outweigh direct employment, it’s also been shown freelance workers are paid handsomely, 62% of freelancers earn a comparable or higher income than when they worked full time.

A common concern before switching to freelance working is ensuring regular work to match the income of full time employment, independent workers are turning to online marketplaces such as PeoplePerHour.com which match freelance or self-employed professionals with project work.

PeoplePerHour.com taps into the demand for a new approach to matching the needs of employers with the needs of the employee. This has arisen because of recent profound changes in the structure of the UK workforce. According to a survey carried out by the Equal Opportunities Commission in 2006, over 40 per cent of UK women and 10 per cent of men are now opting for part-time or occasional work patterns, rather than the traditional '9 to 5' regime.

The overall positive experience of people who quit their permanent jobs for freelancing seems to be turning more and more heads in the directly employed workforce.

Growing numbers of people are moving away from traditional employment, towards freelancing and self-employment. Technology has played a part in allowing people to change how they work, the internet, VoIP and wireless handheld devices are putting paid to the traditional 9-5 and flexible working will soon become the norm.