A national survey conducted by IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed, in association with freelance website Upwork, revealed that 52% of freelancers have a less confident outlook for the UK economy over the next 12 months when compared to the last year, however, 68% of freelancers remain confident in their own businesses performance for the year ahead when compared to the previous year.

The most confident freelancers were in technical support roles, including legal and healthcare support.

In the first quarter of 2016, freelancers recorded just 2.1 weeks of time spent not working. This is the nearest to 100% capacity (84%) that freelancers have been operating at for the past 12 months.

Freelancers’ personal brand and reputation in the marketplace were identified as the most significant factors driving positive business performance (57%). Government attitude to freelancing, as in the previous two quarters, remained the most commonly cited factor to negatively affect business performance (54%).

IPSE’s Q1 2016 Freelancer Confidence Index show that confidence in the UK economy over the next 12 months stands at -19.9, down from +6.2 in the previous quarter. Moreover, 56% of freelancers expect business costs to increase in 2016.

IPSE’s headline index score indicates freelancers’ confidence in their business over the next 12 months stands at +4.9, down from +9.8 in Q4 2015. Freelancers were on assignment for 84% of the first quarter of 2016. In the last 12 months these levels have been consistently over 80%.

“This survey shows that freelancers are resilient,” Chris Bryce, IPSE CEO, said. “Most remain confident in their business even as they are less sure about how the economy will shape up in the next 12 months. Because they work flexibly, freelancers are in many ways much better equipped to deal with a volatile economic picture.”

IPSE research also showed that freelancers' contribution to the UK economy soared to £109 billion in 2015.

In total there were 1.91 million freelancers in 2015, a rise of 36% since 2008. In total, freelancers now account for 6% of the UK workforce.

"Every day freelancers make an enormous contribution to businesses across the UK and the economy as a whole,” Bryce said. “Research shows the vast majority of freelancers love what they do, so it's no surprise that increasing numbers of people are turning to this way of working.

"Large firms, and increasingly, SMEs are tapping into this growing pool of independent workers who are available on demand, with the specialist skills to hit the ground running. There are few signs of the growth in freelancing slowing down any time soon."