Self-employment in the remote work market: Diffusion of innovative labor practice

Abstract

Over the last decade at least one million of Russians and citizens of other post-Soviet countries have been self-employed in the Russian-speaking market of remote work available in the Internet. Based on a unique monitoring data taken from the study «Freelancer census» (2009-2014), the authors show that more and more people try this innovative labor practice. The shares of women and freelance workers from other states and remote Russian regions are increasing; professional variety is strengthening. Those workers who are more mature, educated and skilled choose freelance career self-consciously. At the same time, informal type of employment that involves high risks and social vulnerability can be a barrier to continue online activity. The authors chose FL.RU website and used random venue-based sampling to conduct the survey.