Europeans Think of Self-employment as More Relevat for the Future of Work

The seventh annual Amway Global Entrepreneurship Report (AGER) measures the public pulse of entrepreneurship. The 2016 study finds 77% of respondents have a positive attitude toward entrepreneurship. This consistently high interest in self-employment may explain the increasing importance of global trends like the gig economy – also known as the sharing economy, on-demand economy, peer-to-peer economy, freelance nation, etc. By any name, the trend of individuals seeking to work independent from an employer with greater flexibility is on the rise. The AGER results support this trend, with 39% of respondents worldwide seeing self-employment more likely in five years than today and 56% feeling comfortable searching for and acquiring customers – a key element of self-employment. These results seem to be indicators of a changing world of work.

In Europe entrepreneurship comes from European Millennials, defined as respondents aged under 35 years. They were more inclined to start a business by showing a higher AESI score (52 points) than those respondents over 50 years (38 points) and showed a much stronger desire (61 percent) to becoming self-employed than any other age group. However, respondents aged 35 to 49 years were the most confident in having the necessary resources and skills for this step (46 percent).

Affirming the results of the previous surveys, 74 percent of respondents in the EU were positive about entrepreneurship. Men show a slightly more positive attitude (76 percent) than women (73 percent). Asked about the two most compelling factors for starting a business, Europeans were convinced of “independence from an employer, being my own boss” (49 percent) and “self-fulfillment, possibility to realize own ideas” (44 percent). “Second income prospects” remain third (37 percent). Among all age groups, respondents under 35 years held the strongest belief in “independence” at 55 percent. These reasons to start a business remain the same as in the last surveys.

In Bulgaria 59% show positive attitude towards entrepreneurship (Global average 77%) and 24% entrepreneurial potential (respondents who can imagine starting a business). The most appealing aspect of starting own business is the “Independence from an employer, being my own boss” – 31% of the respondents. 28% state as a main incentive “Second income prospects” and 24% – “Self-fulfillment; possibility to realize own ideas”.

AGER questioned 50 861 women and men aged 14–99 in 45 countries. For more information about the survey visit Amway´s Global News Section.